Obama's Mass Release of 6,000 Inmates Will Endanger Americans, Sheriffs Warn
A number of sheriffs have said that they are concerned for the safety of American citizens after close to 6,000 inmates were released from federal prison earlier in November.
A Fox News report featured several of the sheriffs speaking out against the decision by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, which decided to reduce sentences for most drug trafficking offenses. As many as 46,000 inmates incarcerated on various drug offenses are hoping to have their cases reviewed.
"There's no transition here, there's no safety net. This is the biggest sham they are trying to sell the American people," said Sheriff Paul Babeu of Arizona's Pinal County.
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"On average these criminals have been in federal prison for nine years — you don't have to be a sheriff to realize that a felon after nine years in jail isn't going to be adding value to the community. A third are illegals and felons so they can't work. What do we think they are going to do?" Babeu added.
The Department of Justice has said that 1,764 of the more than 6,000 people released earlier in November are to be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings, but sheriffs are skeptical.
"The promise is they're going to be turned over to ICE and deported. Anyone who thinks there's any likelihood of them leaving the U.S. … think again," Babeu said.
Sheriff Harold Eavenson of Rockwall County, Texas, suggested that the Obama administration is wrong to think the inmates being released will not pose a danger to communities.
"If [the Obama administration is] not capable of making honest and prudent decisions in securing our borders, how can we trust them to make the right decision on the release of prisoners who may return to a life of crime?" Eavenson said.
He added that he would be "amazed" if none of the 6,000 inmates released so far turn out to be non-violent.
The Justice Department has insisted that it took public safety into consideration when granting the early releases, and said that prisoners have gone through public safety assessments.
Kevin Ring, director of strategic initiatives at Families Against Mandatory Minimums, defended the Sentencing Commission.
"I am sure many of the 6,000 prisoners would have loved to be able to leave prison as soon as their amended sentences were complete. But the commission delayed implementation for a year so that as many inmates as possible could get to halfway houses, complete re-entry programs, and begin job searches before actually being released," Ring said, noting that tens of thousands of inmates leave federal and state prison every week.
Some Christian organizations, such as the Christian Community Development Association, have suggested that Christians should "celebrate" the release of the prisoners.
"As Christian leaders who care about the mass incarceration epidemic and the role of the church, whose theology is rooted in the restorative nature of God's justice, we believe the releases are good news. We also believe that this is just the beginning of the work that we as a country must do to ensure that unjust systems in our incarceration system are changed," Leroy Barber and Shawn Cassleberry of the association wrote in an article for The Christian Post.
"Additionally we believe there is much work to be done in the attitudes and hearts of those who are in our churches to ensure that those who are returning home have not only the opportunity for full restoration in society but a family of church congregants, ready to help receive and support them as they work through the hurdles of re-entry," they added.
