A man, who confessed to killing and abusing an elderly couple in Queens, was out on the streets partly due to a change in state parole laws supported by mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani.
Jamel McGriff, a former parole violator, didn’t register his address this summer, which would have led to his incarceration three years ago. But thanks to the 2022 parole reforms, he remained free.
This law introduces a lengthy judicial process to assess guilt for new charges, and it establishes a three-strike policy, allowing parolees to evade consequences for their first two violations.
This legislation came two years after Albany’s bail reform law, which has been criticized for enabling habitual offenders to return to the streets. Interestingly, it hasn’t received as much public attention as the bail reforms did.
The parole bill, written by Farah Sofrand Forest, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, was co-sponsored by Mamdani and several others.
Mamdani stated, “Our system is built for lifelong punishment, not rehabilitation. This reform is crucial for helping our neighbors stay at home after jail.” However, he didn’t respond to inquiries asking for clarification on his stance following the recent tragic murder case.
Last year, 85% of new crimes committed by parolees were committed by those allowed to remain out of jail while awaiting trial.
A critic from the criminal justice field stated anonymously, “Bail reform isn’t as problematic as parole reform. These individuals are already proven offenders.”
Previously, violations like a sex offender not registering could have led to detention by parole officers. Police indicate McGriff’s situation is particularly egregious.
The reforms have also made it tougher to prove a parole violation. Rafael Mangual from the Manhattan Institute noted, “It has become increasingly difficult to revoke parole.” He expressed that while parole is meant to be a privilege, lawmakers seem to have favored the rights of defendants over public safety.
McGriff, at 35, had previously been sentenced to 17 years of a 20-year term for violent crimes, including robbery and sexual assault.
Other cases of violent offenders released despite new crimes demonstrate the potential consequences:
- Jeffrey Mackenzie was released on lifetime parole but has faced multiple arrests for drug-related offenses since.
- Latef Green was arrested for attempted murder after serving just under four years for a hate crime.
- Waheed Foster faced accusations of beating a woman in a metro station, despite a history of serious offenses.
- Charles Lowe, who had been on parole after a lengthy sentence, faces new assault charges.
Mangual pointed out, “If we were strict with violations, many of today’s crimes may have been prevented.” He emphasizes that the reforms have reduced the ability to impose consequences for non-compliance.
The consequences of these changes appear to continue affecting public safety and the responses of the criminal justice system.
