DOC rule changes leave thousands of offenders unsupervised
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SEATTLE -- Tragedy is inevitable, according to insiders at the Department of Corrections.
A KOMO 4 Problem Solver investigation has uncovered disturbing information about new DOC rules that are putting thousands of sex offenders on the street with little or no oversight. These rules drastically change how they keep tabs on dangerous sex offenders.
Victims Katie, Annie and Rob fear they are living on borrowed time. The criminals convicted of sexually assaulting them or their loved ones are free. And because of policy changes and new laws, no one from the Department of Corrections is watching.
They are just three of thousands of offenders no longer getting any DOC supervision. Rob sums it up this way: "It's an accident waiting to happen."
DOC's community corrections officers still keep tabs on thousands of offenders across Washington state, making unscheduled visits to homes and workplaces for the worst offenders.
But over the past couple of years, legislators enacted huge changes, cutting more than 80 positions to save some $25 million. Now thousands of sex offenders who used to be intensively supervised aren't.
"I think the public could be safer," said Iris Peterson, a community corrections officer who spoke to KOMO News in her role as a union spokeswoman. When asked if it was just a matter of time before these changes result in tragedy she answered, "It could be, unfortunately."
That's exactly what Katie Layton fears.
"It was the most terrifying experience of my life," she said, remembering a 2005 rape case in which she was a witness. From jail, the suspect started a campaign of terror.
"I was followed constantly. Everywhere I went, I was followed," Layton said. "(Once) my lug nuts were sawn off my car -- (it was) deliberate, very deliberate."
Court records show offender Christopher Taylor was finally caught in jail with a five-page hand-written request for a hit man, detailing how he wanted Layton and her family killed. "I want to light those whores on fire....those bitches need to die," the letter said. It's five solid pages of venom as he threatens not just Layton, but her family as well. "I could burn that whole family alive," said the letter.
"My biggest fear is my kids," said Layton, now a single mother of two. Because of a legislative change called "tolling," CCOs stopped keeping tabs on Taylor early. He reports to no one and can now move back to Layton's small town of Gold Bar.
"He's free to move back to his family, who happen to live just a few blocks down the road from where I live," Layton said. When asked whether she feels safe, Layton answered, "No, I don't."
Another change deals with re-classifying all DOC convicts. Take inmate Byron Scherf, for example. Despite his history of violent rapes, DOC re-classified him as a low-risk offender. Now he's charged with attacking and strangling corrections officer Jayme Biendl. That same system classifies thousands of sex offenders released to the community. And, like Scherf, hundreds who may have been considered-high risk in the past are now considered low- to moderate-risk, and get minimal DOC supervision.
"We want to be proactive rather than reactive, and the department should be proactive rather than reactive and not wait until something horrible happens," said Peterson.
Peterson is a part of a growing chorus of victims and victim's advocates concerned about what they perceive as a growing risk to the community. Lindsay Palmer with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center is another concerned party.
"The danger doesn't just end because somebody does their time...I think our biggest concern is with money-saving devices," said Palmer.
Victim Annie agreed to a plea deal for her attacker, who was originally charged with second-degree rape. Victim Rob agreed to a deal for the man who molested his son. Both agreed to the deals, believing DOC would provide strict supervision to the attackers. Now because of legislative changes, there's no supervision at all.
"I think that that's slapping me in the face," said Annie. "It's not insuring that he doesn't strike again."
"Just makes me angry, makes me really, really angry," said Rob. "To think nobody cares - I mean, nobody cares."
DOC Community Corrections Secretary Anmarie Aylward says she understands the concerns, but adds the DOC is doing its best to work with the budget, tools and rules lawmakers have given it.
"We need to ensure - I need to ensure - that we follow the law," she said. "The intent is to find the best way of merging science, evidence-based behavior, and public sentiment and public safety. And I think that is what we are doing."
But each of the victims, advocates and corrections officers we spoke with feel time is running out on what they fear is the inevitable.
"Somebody, somebody's got to have the power to make something happen, especially when it comes to something like this," said Rob.
The DOC is currently making plans for even more devastating cuts because of the new state budget shortfall. Those cuts could include dismantling the entire community corrections division, meaning there would be no oversight for any offenders once they are released from prison.
For More Information:
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
A KOMO 4 Problem Solver investigation has uncovered disturbing information about new DOC rules that are putting thousands of sex offenders on the street with little or no oversight. These rules drastically change how they keep tabs on dangerous sex offenders.
Victims Katie, Annie and Rob fear they are living on borrowed time. The criminals convicted of sexually assaulting them or their loved ones are free. And because of policy changes and new laws, no one from the Department of Corrections is watching.
They are just three of thousands of offenders no longer getting any DOC supervision. Rob sums it up this way: "It's an accident waiting to happen."
DOC's community corrections officers still keep tabs on thousands of offenders across Washington state, making unscheduled visits to homes and workplaces for the worst offenders.
But over the past couple of years, legislators enacted huge changes, cutting more than 80 positions to save some $25 million. Now thousands of sex offenders who used to be intensively supervised aren't.
"I think the public could be safer," said Iris Peterson, a community corrections officer who spoke to KOMO News in her role as a union spokeswoman. When asked if it was just a matter of time before these changes result in tragedy she answered, "It could be, unfortunately."
That's exactly what Katie Layton fears.
"It was the most terrifying experience of my life," she said, remembering a 2005 rape case in which she was a witness. From jail, the suspect started a campaign of terror.
"I was followed constantly. Everywhere I went, I was followed," Layton said. "(Once) my lug nuts were sawn off my car -- (it was) deliberate, very deliberate."
Court records show offender Christopher Taylor was finally caught in jail with a five-page hand-written request for a hit man, detailing how he wanted Layton and her family killed. "I want to light those whores on fire....those bitches need to die," the letter said. It's five solid pages of venom as he threatens not just Layton, but her family as well. "I could burn that whole family alive," said the letter.
"My biggest fear is my kids," said Layton, now a single mother of two. Because of a legislative change called "tolling," CCOs stopped keeping tabs on Taylor early. He reports to no one and can now move back to Layton's small town of Gold Bar.
"He's free to move back to his family, who happen to live just a few blocks down the road from where I live," Layton said. When asked whether she feels safe, Layton answered, "No, I don't."
Another change deals with re-classifying all DOC convicts. Take inmate Byron Scherf, for example. Despite his history of violent rapes, DOC re-classified him as a low-risk offender. Now he's charged with attacking and strangling corrections officer Jayme Biendl. That same system classifies thousands of sex offenders released to the community. And, like Scherf, hundreds who may have been considered-high risk in the past are now considered low- to moderate-risk, and get minimal DOC supervision.
"We want to be proactive rather than reactive, and the department should be proactive rather than reactive and not wait until something horrible happens," said Peterson.
Peterson is a part of a growing chorus of victims and victim's advocates concerned about what they perceive as a growing risk to the community. Lindsay Palmer with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center is another concerned party.
"The danger doesn't just end because somebody does their time...I think our biggest concern is with money-saving devices," said Palmer.
Victim Annie agreed to a plea deal for her attacker, who was originally charged with second-degree rape. Victim Rob agreed to a deal for the man who molested his son. Both agreed to the deals, believing DOC would provide strict supervision to the attackers. Now because of legislative changes, there's no supervision at all.
"I think that that's slapping me in the face," said Annie. "It's not insuring that he doesn't strike again."
"Just makes me angry, makes me really, really angry," said Rob. "To think nobody cares - I mean, nobody cares."
DOC Community Corrections Secretary Anmarie Aylward says she understands the concerns, but adds the DOC is doing its best to work with the budget, tools and rules lawmakers have given it.
"We need to ensure - I need to ensure - that we follow the law," she said. "The intent is to find the best way of merging science, evidence-based behavior, and public sentiment and public safety. And I think that is what we are doing."
But each of the victims, advocates and corrections officers we spoke with feel time is running out on what they fear is the inevitable.
"Somebody, somebody's got to have the power to make something happen, especially when it comes to something like this," said Rob.
The DOC is currently making plans for even more devastating cuts because of the new state budget shortfall. Those cuts could include dismantling the entire community corrections division, meaning there would be no oversight for any offenders once they are released from prison.
For More Information:
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
