By Vern Pierson

In response to the release of the Inspector General’s report pertaining to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s supervision of parolee Phillip Garrido, we welcome this report as a critical first step to: (1) Identify the problems with the federal and state systems that supervise dangerous sexual offenders released on parole; and (2) Implement the changes and reforms that are needed to assure that this type of oversight does not happen in the future.

A more critical question which was has not yet been addressed is why a dangerous sexual predator like Phillip Garrido was released after serving only eleven years of a fifty year federal sentence and a five-to-life Nevada State sentence. Ultimately, that is an issue to be addressed by federal and state legislatures who determine the criteria for parole board reviews and who set funding levels for corrections facilities. Unfortunately, California’s current financial crisis and the pending prisoner healthcare litigation may lead to further reduction in funding which is necessary to ensure the incarceration of dangerous criminals and their supervision upon release.

We look forward to working with Matt Cate, Director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and California Inspector General David Shaw to ensure that reforms are instituted that will protect the citizens of El Dorado County and the State of California.

Vern Pierson is El Dorado County district attorney.