Parole board explains system in light of recent parolee crimes

The parole system of the Kolbe Foundation has come under attack because of a recent case against Barry Robinson. He was charged on Tuesday for allegedly attacking and robbing a nurse and was granted bail even though he is a parolee. That bail did not take effect because the parole unit ordered that Robinson be returned to the Hattieville Prison. But the issue had already caused a stir in the media and so the Kolbe Foundation called a press conference today on the strengths and weakness of the system. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting
The latest charges against Barry Robinson marked the second time he has been to court since he was granted parole in November 2008. And a lot of people were not happy when he was granted bail, especially Marisa Quan, the woman he was convicted of raping. And while the parole unit has kept him behind bars, many may wonder what qualified him for parole in the first place.

Mel Auil, C.E.O., Kolbe Foundation
“You’re entitled to parole after serving thirty-three percent of your time if you have been sentenced to a time of over twelve months. The law basically states that you must complete good conduct and industry, you must have participated in work programs and rehabilitation programs to be even eligible for parole.”

Marnette Faux-Westby, Head of Parole Unit, Kolbe Foundation
“What the board has done in order to strengthen and to add some safety to society, is for most of those people, rather than to send them on remission is to send them on parole because they’re going home anyway. It’s to send them on parole where there is a hold and they are under supervision and they are under rules and regulations and that was the case with Barry because he had passed his two-thirds. He was seven months past having earned his remission by good behavior and productivity.”

Robinson’s parole was granted after six failed applications, but according Marnette Faux-Westby, head of the Parole Unit, that privilege is being taken away for the remainder of his sentence.

Marnette Faux-Westby
“Barry Robinson, at this point in time, is in the process of revocation. He has been returned to the prison, he has been placed in lock down, his name will be before the board for parole revocation. That is the recommendation coming from Kolbe and the Parole Unit. He has like four more years left so he has to complete that fifteen years. And if he is found guilty of the charge that he now has, whatever sentence he is given, will begin at the end of this time that he must complete with the revocation.”

But Robinson was always considered a high risk parolee and after a burglary charge in January of 2008, he was placed under heavy supervision. And while that was a violation of his parole, C.E.O. of the Kolbe Foundation, Mel Auil says he was allowed to leave on bail based on the outcome of that case.

Mel Auil
“As per practice, we don’t necessarily revocate the parole at that time because we wait until we see the outcome of the court hearing. And his case was struck out on July first. That is why his parole was not revoked. He was arrested again on October sixth and even though he was offered bail, we have held him here since that arrest.”

Auil says the Kolbe Foundation is working to better their parole system, starting with the weekly meetings of the unit.

Mel Auil
“What we have just recently started is to change the focus of those meetings to a more structured aftercare type program. So it’s not only monitoring but we also have a more aftercare type program. We’re also looking at strengthening the rehabilitation program within these walls itself and toughen up the criteria before the inmate even comes to the parole board.”

In addition to having his parole revoked, Robinson will be subjected to isolated lockdown without privileges and visits for his violation. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

Robinson has had previous convictions, but according to Faux-Westby, he was eligible for parole because he did not exceed five convictions.