Interview with Parole Board Chair, prior to Thrill Killer's Release.....I wanted to know why?

Good Morning, RI Parole Board is RELEASING this thrill Killer decades early after 13 years of a 35 year sentence served.  You should be OUTRAGED.  The Board earlier approved letting Alfred Brissette Jr. out on parole more than 20 years before his original release date.

On Friday morning, December 7, 2012, I voluntarily met with the Parole Chair, Ken Walker and Assistant, Mike Degnan at the 40 Howard Street, Varley Building in Cranston.  My actions are motivated by my obligation to safeguard my community because I find Rhode Island’s sovereignty and integrity to perpetually be compromised.  Note, Governor Chafee elects the Chair position.  This position was held by Mr. Walker several years ago when he was duly working as a Professor of Education at RIC, and retired.  He said the Chair position years ago was only part-time and that over the years there became pressure to make it full-time, as it now stands.  I must admit, I was very disappointed that no one from the Cranston Herald or Cranston Patch accepted my invitation to sit in on this interview.  Importance of the bigger picture being the "Parole Board has the full Discretion and power", and contrary to their catawampus assertion that it’s based solely on the Legislative Good Times accruement. 

The purpose of the interview was to set the record straight on Parole Board's oversight and accountability.  As I have previously shared, Carolyn Mederios is a Cranston resident whom formed a Non-profit  the Alliance for Safe Communities and this local woman has lobbied your Parole Board to rethink their release of Bissette 'Thrill Kill' killer.  I was at the Parole Board trying to dissect why I was told the Parole Board must carry out the Good Times Bill that applies to this criminal which our lawmakers passed.  However, I learned that they 'do not determine eligibility...based solely on Statutory legislation'.  When I look at our Representatives and Senators passing and supporting such legislation that enables animals like Bissette to use "Good Times" and other such laws to get out EARLY, I am astounded that some of you keep voting in the same people.  Walker said that the reason for Rethinking their earlier decision was because the collaborative agreement with the lodging provider wasn’t in place and therefore a Permit could not be granted and the process of parole review is repeated. Then again the media doesn't draw attention, so how would you know unless you are monitoring them. 

What seemed like I was going to have a great interview, threw me a little when my microphone wouldn't work.  Mr. Walker was very nice and reminded me of Bill Cosby.  He was would ponder the information asked and then often come back to me and flip the interview trying to learn more about me and why I wanted to know this information and what goes on in my personal life - LOL!  I wanted to know why 'the parole board' states they are unable to hold them under these current restrictions because I was questioning their weight and leverage to overturn such decisions and be released into our community.  I recounted a conversation that Mike Degnan and I had that his release was "All based on Law", and I turned to Mike and said that is misleading because the Eligibility is based on Good Time, however the ultimate decision is yours based on what you have seen and I cannot imagine how he can be rehabilitated.  Mr. Walker said in 2009 Bissette was denied and in 2012 he had accumulated enough Good Time and was all set for Release.  However, they reversed their initial decision to release because Bissette's housing placement had changed and was not clear.  If a Parolee doesn't have housing in place arranged prior to release, then we deny them Parole.  He said just because we have "public outcry", it is not based on this factor ...but rather the Release Plan.  He said the Statute takes precedence over your guidelines when there are conflicting items.  Walker, “The DOC has a right to remove and transfer an individual or inmate, we did this with Craig Price (http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/west_bay/providence-craig-price-motion-denied), who was sent to Florida due to safety concerns.  Walker pointed out that the Parole Board could be sued if they didn’t adhere to the Good Times and denied Bissette parole.  It has happened before.

Mr. Walker said that Early Release is a "misnomer" here in Rhode Island.  If a person is eligible for parole they have to have a Release Plan and meet the criteria.  It is never due to overcrowding.  I questioned the erroneous claims put forward regarding the case of accused murderer Jason Wayne Pleau and my involvement

Mr. Walker brought up Alfred "Freddie" Bishop was convicted in March of the slaying of 35-year-old Gabriel Medeiros.  Bishop had been arrested less than a year earlier after spending more than three decades at the state prison for a separate killing in 1973.  He brought up other murderers and discussed a recent one that stabbed his wife 50+ times saying some are crimes of passion and there can be rehabilitation in certain circumstances that they look at all the factors.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee recently stated "As a matter of public policy, Rhode Islanders have long opposed the death penalty, even for the most heinous crimes.  To voluntarily let Mr. Pleau be exposed to the federal death penalty for a crime committed in Rhode Island would be an abdication of one of my core responsibilities as governor: defending and upholding the legitimate public-policy choices made by the people of this state."   Rhode Island abolished the death penalty in 1852, although a very narrow death penalty statute was put in place afterwards.   That law was finally removed in 1984, and no executions occurred in Rhode Island after 1852.  I believe this was based on the yellow stripes that the Governor Chafee and those he chooses to carry out their personal opinions versus what the community as a whole wants.

Carolyn Medeiros of Alliance for Safe Communities and the Brotherhood of Corrections are OUTRAGED that such a heinous crime is not punished more.   I am thankful that they are there and now they are demanding change to the way the Parole Board conducts themselves, otherwise you need to ask yourself, where are the laws to protect the community???  What the Sam Hill is going on in Rhode Island???  He has had the luxury of 3 square meals, warm bed, Netflix TV and receiving a College Education for FREE on your Dollar.