David Blumberg has been chairman of the state?s Parole Commission since 2004.
For decades, he was the librarian at the Baltimore City Jail, giving him a unique perspective on the correctional system.
Under state law, the commission can parole nonviolent offenders after a quarter of their sentence is up, and violent offenders after half their sentence. The commission can issue warrants for alleged parole violators and suspend or revoke parole after a violation.
What?s the difference between parole and probation?
Parole … is a discretionary release by the Maryland Parole Commission. Probation is court-ordered.
Some inmates do not feel that parole serves their best interest because of the payment of fees, the urine testing [for drugs] and the monthly supervision, [which sometimes] does interfere with employment.
How is mandatory release different?
Mandatory release is by operation of law. The person must leave that day.
Arthur Bremer [who shot presidential candidate George Wallace in Laurel in 1972] must leave Nov. 9, 2007.
He will have done 35 of 53 years. He has 6,364 days of credit, so his next 17 years will be outside of prison.
He cannot be held a day beyond that, or we can actionably be held accountable. He?s not being paroled.
Do you have any problem with the new policy about seeking arrest warrants for city shooting victims who are on parole?
No. We look at everything on a case-by-case basis. If someone is a so-called victim of a shooting, we?ll look at the facts of the case, and see if it?s something that merits a warrant being issued.
Does parole save the state money?
As far as bed savings alone, with an agency that has a $5 million budget, to be able to clear $75 [million] to $80 million worth of beds, I think it?s very important.
