Parole Audit Given Green Light

State auditors got the green light Tuesday to start probing the practices of the state parole board, following the revelation this year that the number of early releases has recently jumped by about 40 percent.

Prompted by a seven-question inquiry penned by statehouse Republicans, the Legislative Audit Committee voted to allow the preliminary fact-finding. Staff could report its initial findings as early as June, when panel members will decide whether to launch a full investigation.

About 115 more inmates a month walked out of prison on early release in 2007 compared with the previous year.

Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, said the increase "raises important public-safety concerns" and suggests that the early paroles may be a way to alleviate budget woes in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Not so, said department spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti.

"Our primary responsibility is public safety," Sanguinetti said, pointing out that the head of the state parole board is a lifetime law enforcement officer.

"He would not want to release anybody that (was not) ready to be released."

She attributed the jump to a lack of weekend transportation from two jail facilities. The change in bus service, which happened in 2005, means inmates must be released on Friday if their mandated release date falls on a weekend.

Denver Post