Update (4/3): The local media outlet that originally reported this story has amended their reporting to indicate that Burnett was released early as part of a mandatory re-entry program, not in response to coronavirus.
***
Inmates across the country who were released to protect prison populations from COVID-19 are already committing crimes in their local communities, including at least one former inmate who admitted to stabbing a man to death just four days after his release.
Jacob Burnett was released in Louisville, KY, two days into his two-year sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Four days after being released, he admitted to stabbing and killing a 60-year-old man in a subdivision just east of the city, according to local media.
Another Louisville inmate, Kenneth Walker, was released to “home incarceration” even though he was accused of shooting local officer John Mattingly on March 13th. Corrections FOP Spokesperson Tracy Dotson told the media that his lodge has denounced Walker’s release.
In New Jersey, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden told Fox News that a recently released inmate has already been arrested for shoplifting and theft, according to Tap Into Middletown.
“This is an exploitation of a policy that certainly was pushed with an agenda,” Golden said. “None of the other jails were consulted before this went to the ‘show cause’ order. In one case we had a release on Tuesday, he was arrested for shoplifting and theft on Wednesday – so this is what’s happening here. It’s certainly a drain on our public safety resources.”
SEE ALSO: New York Suspends Pistol Permitting, Shuts Down Remington in Response to COVID-19
Municipalities across the country have announced the release of “nonviolent” inmates for fear that COVID-19 will spread rapidly in highly populated jails and prisons.
In LA County, Sheriff Alex Villanueva has released roughly 1,700 prisoners back onto the street.
“We’ve been doing quite a bit to minimize the impact of our custody population,” he said. “Our population within our jail is a vulnerable population just by virtue of who they are and where they’re located. So, we’re protecting that population from potential exposure.”
The mass exodus isn’t insolated to just a few cases. According to a report by the Walton Sun, law enforcement agencies across the country are cutting their inmates loose:
- In Cleveland, officials have released over 700 prisoners from the Cuyahoga County Jail in less than two weeks;
- Near Oakland, California, more than 250 have been released;
- In Nashville, Tennessee, up to 300 have been released;
- Across New Jersey, hundreds of prisoners were expected to exit county jails this week under an order issued by Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner.
SEE ALSO: Clay on Survival Foods for COVID-19 Crisis (How to Avoid Eating Your Pets)
While some in the law enforcement community support the moves, others have voiced concern. New Jersey Sheriff Golden called the new policy “unacceptable” and “absurd”:
In Louisville, Former Jefferson County Judge Sandra McLaughlin called it a “get out of jail day” and encouraged residents to lock their doors:
Kentucky Judge Julie Kaelin, who presided over the release of 45 inmates in Louisville on Saturday, criticized the local media for presenting “this information in a misleading manner that needlessly stokes fear.”
She does not explain in her statement how the reporting was misleading.
They should let women that have completed all but last 30 days boot csmp out. They are not harden garden criminals
The left is just trying to destroy our country?
I say we reopen Alcatraz.
I know it’s not nice to make judgements about people’s physical appearance, but if your neck is disfigured with tatoo, you’re a box of cat-shit.
This guy is just a criminal. Plain and simple. It’s got nothing to do with tattoos or the placement of them.
Why would anyone but a psycho-criminal pay to have graffiti applied permanently to his nape?
Definitely..not the boy next door..
Whoda thunk it? Criminals, released early into a society with a reduced law enforcement agenda, committing new crimes? EVERYONE WITH A WORKING BRAIN YOU IDIOT DIMS! I’m sure it’s just all a big mistake, like maybe the criminals weren’t briefed before their release that they shouldn’t commit new crimes? This is the difference between a utopian mindset and a real-world application of that mindset. WE DON’T LIVE IN A UTOPIAN SOCIETY! I hate to repeat myself, but IDIOT DIMS!
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised that it is who you are, who you know, and how much you can donate into certain bank accounts in getting these early releases secured.
Just a quick glance at his picture told me he was ready for the streets.
“Burnett was released early as part of a mandatory re-entry program, not in response to coronavirus.”
Well there goes this scare mongering headline.
That’s what was originally reported. Watch the video on the WAVE3 website.
Good thing it’s a video because if they had to actually read and comprehend the material……
Like every libtard I’ve ever encountered, they seem to do best with “sound bites” – the written word requires way too much concentration, especially if said material contains factual data. It’s simply too much and overwhelms them.
I hope they give each inmate released the address of the judge who released them so they could go thank them.
oh hear this commiefornia releasing criminals and given them 1.000 if they promise they won’t commit a crime wtf. what a bunch of delusional idiots.
yeah this is how much the government cares about you wake up people this all a bunch bull s.
Setting criminals free while we are forced to stay in our homes because of an engineered cold virus defies common sense. Which is the greater threat to our freedom and our security, a mindless pathogen, or a freedom-killing government. Didn’t our government give us the unconstitutional Patriot Acts when America was cowering in fear of “terrorism?” With all the MSM’s Chicken-Little fear-mongering (orchestrated by the Deep State), the panicked American people are voluntarily surrendering their hard-won Bill of Rights to power-crazed political parasites. This new bio-weapon may take some of us out, but a tyrannical government that takes our freedoms to “protect” us is a far greater threat to our long-term survival.
More proof of the real world consequences of electing an indecisive lying dithering buffoon who thinks he’s smarter than everybody else including the experts. Each orange voter has blood on their hands and contributed to this economic disaster. Way to go.
And so you say, but what gives you the insight to judge or criticize the President of the United States of America? It looks like either you are a open headed idiot and have the crap poured into your head type of fella, or that you think that you are smarter than the President and you should be the President. So if the Chi Coms hadn’t lied and covered up their pandemic none of us would be guaranteed today. It has nothing to do with President Trump, and blaming him is as idiotic as your post! Check it out for yourself!
Err….I always thought the 1st amendment gave us the right to criticize the president
The 1st Amendment does give you the right to state your opinion. It does not give you immunity to the consequences of it from anyone but the Federal Government and even that is limited…..
Looks like a libtard troll got in!
He’s got a lot of lying to do to catch up to you pathological lying low life’s. So why don’t you take your fcking socialist bs and move to cuba or some other socialist shithole..you people deserve what your gonna be getting soon..Het, Portland whould welcome you with open arms, you live with the homeless Antifa sewer rats downtown..you could roam the streets looking for anybody who may look “conservative” and 4 or 5 of you pussies can attack them and beat the shit out of them..You are fucking cowards with big mouths and nothing to back it up with.
You sound like an illegal alien that our president won’t let come into our country. If you are a real American, do a little research as to what our president has done and is doing for even thankless American’s like you.
Your hate comes from the communist democrat you back. Think where we would be if any one of your democrat leaders were in office right now.
What jackwad you are petey blaming our great President and the people that voted for him for the Kung Flu deaths in the US, you must be another worthless communist parroting the Chinese propaganda machine..
I’m confused why your hatred of Trump and those who voted for him has any thing to do with this article????
Good thing I’m washing my hands every 15 minutes. Four more terms… four more terms… four more terms…
You’re obviously a good example of this country’s brain washed liberal dummycrat. A product of the bought and paid for media. Go to your room and pet your puppy.
“Got to your room and pet your puppy” Hmm… Although I have not heard that term before, I detect a double entendre here. From his post, I suspect he has petted his puppy too often, if what they say about that practice is true.
“pete”, which is short for peter, which is slang for a man’s penis….dick….all of this being equally juvenile to your posted comment about President Trump, which has virtually nothing to do with the article itself. Your comments are as irrelevant as you are. Right up there with the last vote you cast for president.
Is that you Mr. mayor BootyJig?
One of the early side effects of COVID-19 seems to be the enhancement of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome). Noted ailments include increased stupidity, idiotic comments and praise of the tyrannical Chinese Communist government.
Easy to talk trash hiding behind a keyboard isn’t it petey?
“Our population within our jail is a vulnerable population just by virtue of who they are and where they’re located. So, we’re protecting that population from potential exposure.”
Who gives a shit about the prison population? What about the law abiding citizens? Trace every released criminal back to the politician and bureaucrat who released them and throw their ass in with them.
WELL SAID!!!
Can’t you see 😔, they are releasing prisoners because we’re all prisoners now.
Awww, isn’t this special? What it looks like when Demonrats get their way.
Remember in November.
Ask: what is the exact wrong thing to do and bring destruction on the American populous?
Answer: standard recommendation from Democrats.
Motive: destruction of the current system of government and replacement with totalitarian system.
Incentive: enjoyment by the elite of the suffering of the proletariat. Basking in the sense of power and superiority.
Search (event 201) This is the order out of chaos we have all heard about the N.W.O.makin there play.While we are told to stay in the house and we obediently obey scared of the new invisible boogeyman that they masterfully portray what a sad time for the world and armed U.S.OF A.
Sheer Proof that some judges and law Enforcement Individuals are Blinder than Lady Justice ! Why do we pay people to corrupt the legal System and put the general public at Risk ? Who’s in Charge here,some Bleeding Heart Liberal ? This is Worse than anything the Democrats have done so far , releasing Felons out into the streets ! What did they think was going to happen ? Dismantle the Democratic party ! DTDP !
Releasing prisoners early will do nothing to stop a virus. If they are in, and they get sick, it can be confined to the prison or jail. Releasing them to the public is a double whammy, because if they are sick, it will spread, and if they are not sick, they need to be isolated anyway.
For about 20 years, we have a movement afoot to “go soft” or have mercy on these criminals. I expect those who only know a life of crime may have gotten lucky, with a short sentence instead of what they deserved. There is little to no chance they WON’T re-offend. Of course, they will.
Well I’m still waiting for the swamp to get cleaned out of Washington, until that happens society is going to have all the rest of the bureaucratic losers do stupid shit that makes no sense to the law abiding citizens such as releasing criminals back into the streets to commit more crimes and taking our gun rites away. While their at it lets give illegal immigrants a free pass to our country so we can pay for their medical health care, schooling, sell street drugs and commit heinous crimes against us law abiding citizens. This country has gone and went to pot.
That’s the mindset of Liberals. Making sure the inmates rights are protected and letting them out to continue their lifestyle and the rest of be damned. Then the son’s of bitches want to ban ammo and gun sales. Well, to all you liberals do the letters F.O. mean anything to you?
This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
The prison population is already segregated and socially distant from the general population and should have less change of a pandemic than a shopping mall or cruise ship.
Old saying, we have the inmates watching the asylum. Sort of like letting the free nuts on the right of the left decide what they need to do. Yes many a mistake or decision is made by both the right and the left. Yet we only want to point a finger at the other side or other guy. Old saying, The Fox is watching The Hen House. WE have the right and left watching our tax dollars, our guns, our-you name it and both sides have a hand in it. They have become our Entitled Elites. How about instead of so many of US picking a pet cause and pounding our personal drum about we, we take the time to try to find Solutions to the problems we see. Hope that happens as I simple see most of us on both sides sitting around Whining about each other. Free Your Mind. Be Party Blind. It has worked 4 me in my 53 years of voting for the person or the issue, and never, nope not once did I vote for The Party or The Gang. God Bless USA ALL.
IF YOU DON’T ENFORCE THE GUN LAWS WE HAVE..QUIT TRYING TO ADD NEW ONES..
CONVICTED FELONS CAUGHT CARRING GUNS…FIVE YEARS FLAT..NOT TWO DAYS AND
OUT..PUT THE JUDGE IN JAIL, …..
Strange isn’t it, new arrestees are released to protect current prisoners but the new are not tested just released. So, if they are not infected, instead of being put in a jail free of the virus, they are released to likely be infected, thus preferring the older inmates over the new arrestees and showing little concern for the law abiding.
THe left, always ready to put criminals back on the street while restricting or eliminating access to self defense tools for honest citizens.
1st. There is no left or right. They all are the same.
2nd. If you have waited until now to try and get guns, you deserve whatever happens to you. Do you think if the gov ever decides to really go ham on its citizen’s you will be able to go into a gun shop?
I think they would have had better luck releasing prisoners who weren’t psychopaths, and had served enough time to appreciate their freedom.
Darla, you are right to some degree. Problem is they don’t check or look at their past criminal history. I know because I was once a Deputy Sheriff working in Ohio’s 3 or 4 largest jail. They earned the right to be there in jail and nothing should change this! We had a very bad case of MRSA one year in which everybody was getting it. Us Deputy’s and Inmates. One inmate died. We were not going to go around and start releasing Inmates because of an outbreak. This is purely a Demoncrat ideal that they came up. Sympathy for the Inmates, BS Because they were there for a crime that they themselves committed. Nobody forced them to do it. That is for sure.
You hit the nail on the head! Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
If we have to release a prisoner and the prisoner is too dangerous to be released we should let them chose between incarceration and execution.for now! If this gets bad enough perhaps we need to kill them all so theres no more innocents endangered by such debris
Should be that way for repeat child molesters, cop killers, and drug related murders. Automatic death sentence. NO QUESTIONS ASKED!
Agreed….
Why should the death of a cop be more serious than that of an innocent law abiding citizen?
Are you really that dense? Here are two see Spot run answers.
1. If the perp will kill an LEO, how much quicker will they be to kill you?
2. Are you volunteering to patrol your local area and protect it’s population? I didn’t think so. LEO’s are not perfect, some are jerks, but it beats the crap out of the U.S. being like some of the middle eastern countries who are ruled by warlords and roving bands of armed criminals.
Leave’em locked up. If CV19 gets into the population and some die from it, well, consider it reducing overcrowding naturally.
If you deliberately turn a rabid dog loose on the public you are responsible! Arrest the politicians responsible for releasing these people as Accessories to Murder!
Exactly, and make sure the irresponsible official(s) serve the same terms in prison as the released criminals were sentenced to, in addition to the new charges. That should cure the maudlin attitudes of some of them.
Agree….
Well duh, what did you expect to happen? These guys are in jail because they are a menace to society. Anyone who would release them is a menace as well.
Democratic Logic 101…First take America’s Guns, then release dangerous criminals. This way they will forget all about how crooked & evil we are, because they will be fighting for their lives.
The term “prisoner” has a meaning. The definition of the word “prisoner”: a person deprived of liberty and kept under involuntary restraint, confinement, or custody…
Where in sentencing, does it say “..we’ll let you out if COVID19 ever threatens your life..”
Do WE the PEOPLE get to sue the Bureau of Federal Prisons for “Failure to maintain custody of inmates.”? When they commit murders and rapes…….then what? I hope these prisoners released stay in democratically controlled cities and states, and continue their crime spree. Kill all the democrats you want!
Our court systems have been taken over by liberal judges and prosecutors during past liberal presidents terms. We are suffering under their poor lack of judgement and lack of understanding of the real world the rest of us live in.
If the people that give The orderTo release these thugs was to be held Responsible For there misdeeds and put in jail for the crimes they Commit they wouldn’t release them
This nation has gone batsh*t insane. Who the hell are these activist judges? Doesn’t anyone vet candidates or judges anymore?
While this certainly sounds ass backwards it does have a potential upside…..which is the purpose of the release. When we put people in jail the government (local, state, federal) assumes a caretaker role. That means if they get sick, they are entitled to full medical coverage. Jails are by there nature and function, closed environments with very close quarters. If COVID-19 gets into the prison population it will explode and local medical facilities will need to care for those folks. I’d rather have the medical care go to folks not in prison. It’s double edge sword in many way meaning there will be pain either way. Be vigilant, be smart, be safe.
That’s really faulty logic you have, For one, if the prison population is isolated, and someone brings in the virus, them it will remain isolated and the general public will be spared the potential of more people on the street with the virus. If some that are released do have the virus and are asymptomatic at release, they have the potential to spread it to more people, as well as the potential to commit more crimes. In effect, they are being rewarded by being released, simply over some irrational fear. They committed a crime, they should do their time, no matter what. All the releases are doing is putting more innocent people in danger.
On the up side, with many more people at home and millions more guns being bought, there is the possibility that the criminals will take the “room temperature challenge” by continuing their activities.
I’d submit that by releasing these inmates, we’re releasing a segment of society back into the populous who have demonstrated that they don’t follow the law, hence, rules and regulations. All of these people are potentially the ones who would be more likely to ignore stay at home orders and could likely do more harm than good in enhancing the spread of this disease.
You said ” I’d rather have the medical care go to folks not in prison.” The medical care would instead go to people that SHOULD be in prison.
I don’t see the logic of your argument because with the majority of people who are infected are sent home to let it run its course. Only those in critical or extremely taxed immune systems or those who already have lung and breathing problems are kept and actually treated. Besides, the majority of prisoners are very healthy and get good medical care already and would likely come through the virus just fine. The prisoners you are talking about protecting are in for long term or even life for serious crimes. What makes their lives more valuable than the people who didn’t willingly and knowingly make bad choices which put them there long term or for life? If someone gets a life sentence it doesn’t mean that all measures should be taken to extend that life. If they were on the streets they would be just as susceptible to the virus as we are!
Judge kaelin is responsible for the stabbing of a 60 year old man! May she pay the price!
I noticed a comment about lawsuits taking place if an inmate became ill with the virus. I do not know of any laws that protect inmates from becoming ill from invisible germs. The common cold or the flu are prime examples of this. The original idea behind incarceration was to take away your freedom. When this idea was conceived, that meant no newspapers, magazines, trips to a restaurant, saloon or general store. You weren’t free to buy candy, the food that you like or anything else. What has happened to society? Why are criminals being coddled? If I got locked up, I could work on my master’s degree at taxpayer expense. Do you want to pay taxes when this is what is done with your money? As for the knucklehead in the article, a five cent investment in one 45 round would be an efficient way to solve the problem
Where are you finding .45 ACP for a nickle? The cheapest I’ve seen was $0.29/round.
I got the other 24 cents.
9mm russian steelcase fmj is costing .18 which is what reloadable brass fmj was a month ago. A nickel might get you a quality 22lr round
Even at a buck a pop it would still be a cheaper and more efficient way of dealing with the problem. Worth every penny spent if you ask me.
The idiot who released these scumbags should be sentenced the same as the criminal who committed the crime!
No kidding this is the dumbest freaking Idea sure let’s release them so they don’t get sick this judge is a fucking moron. place her ass in jail.
This ranks as one of the dumbest ideas ever they are in jail for a reason DHU! hope your reading this judge your a freaking twit.
B.D.
this woman is a piker compared to the sheriff in L.A. Ka. he released 2400 prisoners with the approval and applause from the dimbulb democrat mayor garceti and the bay area bastard governor gruesome newsome, another nephew of the bat s**t crazy speaker of the house Piglosi.
Relatives of victim need to sue sue sue…
How and why are liberal and progressive judges allowed to make reckless and negligent decisions without liability?
Why are there not clearheaded lawyers suing both the judge and the local governments? If the laws prevent that then we need to vote for change…
There were, and still are, some good reasons to protect government employees from “ambulance chasers”. But, I do believe the time has come to allow incompetent and abusive judicial decisions to be evaluated for lawsuit potential. Many leftist, activist jurists often seem to ignore reality in their pursuit of their agenda(s), and need to be held accountable since The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and voters are and have long been remiss is holding them accountable.
The local hospitals have restricted movement by not allowing visitors except in an “imminent death” situation in order to reduce the risk to patients and staff. So it’s real simple — no visitors in the jails, no one in that hasn’t been screened. The guards will have to be screened more, but the close proximity doesn’t mean the inmates are more likely to get the virus. IF one gets it it’s more likely to spread, but it’s a lot easier to keep the virus out in the first place. Any new arrests/cases need to be quarantined before going in.
I guess the geniuses making life or death decisions re: prisoner release don’t consider whose lives are more at risk: confined prisoners or targets of revenge, like police officers, or just regular citizens in the wrong place at the wrong time. Already happening.
Why would I have to moderate? I just supplied factual info. Others are saying buy guns, etc. Your policy makes no sense.
Instead of paying millions to take care of lifers, just invest in a $0.42 high speed wireless devise and donate it to said lifer and save the taxpayers a little money.
Absolutely!
Definitely calls for a Mosambique Drill. Should take care of any problem children.
This is one of the ways the system begins to collapse. Buy guns while you can.
If inmates are not released and if extra precaution is not taken to prevent virus infection in the prison population you can bet there would be a monsoon of lawsuits to bankrupt our government bodies if somebody gets sick.
Maybe. If the government concerned gives permission to sue. Generally, if a specific law has not been broken, governments are immune from lawsuits.
Maybe. I’d rather cross that bridge than the one where the sixty year old guy in the story gets stabbed to death.
None of these prisoners should be released early, but come on, let’s do a little research before publishing a story like this. This guy wasn’t released because of Covid19, read the whole article: https://www.wave3.com/2020/03/30/more-inmates-released-amid-corona-concerns-one-inmate-gets-re-arrested-murder/
Thx for this. WAVE3 changed/updated the story after we reported on it. Note at the top of the story it reads “Updated March 30 at 6:32 p.m.” Apparently, local authorities are now saying it wasn’t a COVID-19 related release. But if you watch the original WAVE3 video embedded in the article, it still suggests that the perp was released due to the coronavirus.
Convicted murders should be put to death. This would save taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Our money would be better spent educating people, which is cost effective/useful to humanity. Cost to taxpayers incarcerating one person is about $50,000.00 a year. Murders are not worth the cost to taxpayers. Only the rich/big business get richer incarcerating people. Prisons for profit at taxpayer’s expense. Wake up people. We need to eliminate prison for profit. This would also save taxpayers billions of dollars every year. The only reason we all pay outrageous prices for everything is big business/the rich market manipulation. The corrupt GOP/Republicans support dark money/big business running our Government. Capitalism is not Democracy.
That’s just like a liberal, blame the other side for liberal judges and policies that go against a law abiding society, that put these criminals back on the street.
I suppose Hillary selling 25% of our Uranium to Russia is considered “bright” money?
Stick to the facts, not conspiracy.
Liberal pitching execution of murderers? No,hes come a ways from other liberals,needs a lil work and he’ll be with us. And there are gops who are just as evil and dirty as democommies! They should be flushed down the same toilet
I usually don’t comment on these articles but this time, I felt I had to, The people commenting here obviously doesn’t know what it’s like to have someone you love and care about incarcerated during this pandemic. My husband is incarcerated and I’ve hired an attorney to get him out but in the meantime, I stress, worry, cry and pray about his safety and health constantly, in my husbands case though, he served 85% of his time and he has no intentions of doing anything to go back. The problem in most states is there are no programs or support systems once they get out and a lot of them have no family or friends to help them get back on their feet, my husband is lucky, he has a good wife, a supportive family and a strong support system to go home to plus I already have a job for him. Yes some inmates will re-offend but not all of them will and remember they have families too.
Anna, it is not taxpayers responsibility to cater to those that choose to be criminals. And did your husband have all the things you speak of (good wife etc.) before he committed his crime? If so, what good did it do?
Call a wambulance, lady. I dealt with convicts and their families for decades. You know only your husband, and you know only the side he chooses to show you. You say he has no intention of going back to prison, but he had no intention of going there in the first place. You say he’s served 85 percent and is still inside, but the feds are the strictest on parole and even they release at 85 percent unless there has been criminal behavior inside.
Recidivism rate is 44%….your husband had a “good wife” and “strong support system” but still committed a felony, so why should he be trusted?
He chose to commit a crime. He could have chosen not to. Pretty at forward.
If they did a crime against a politician’s family, they would be held for a few years.. Give them all a free taxi ride to the governor’s house..
And yet, the man who beat Senator Paul nearly to death got only 6 months in prison.
California has been doing this for several years. First there was a federal court order to eliminate massive overcrowding in the prison system (it was at 35,000 over capacity at the time), which lead to a bunch of state prisoners being dumped in county jails if they had less than two years left to serve. Then it became a law–that was passed without any money to compensate the counties for the extra manpower and costs associated with state prison inmates. The result was virtual “catch and release” for low level criminals such as drug addicts, burglars, car thieves, street drug dealers and probation violations. In tonight, out tomorrow. You pretty much have to rape a child or kill someone for them to keep you until trial. The other show will drop if and when the law eliminating the bail system (similar to the NY law) goes into effect. No bail is a get out of jail free card, all day every day.
Also, here is a tidbit you may not know, that once the California Bureau of Prisons takes custody of an inmate, they can be released at any time due to overcrowding, even if they are a violent offender. It’s great that the Sheriff of L.A. released 1700 inmates early, then shutdown gun stores. Nothing but morons in control of that state.
Mark n that is what happened to the PRK passed law the added 5 years to a convicted felon for using a gun in any crime. another part of it was that 85% of inmates were “persons of color” which in the PRK is a protected race.