Phillip Garrido was a drug addict and a sexual predator. Despite being labeled a “time bomb” by mental health professionals, he was released on federal supervision in 1988. Three years later, while still under federal supervision, Garrido kidnapped 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard and kept her locked in a shed for 18 years.  He repeatedly raped her, resulting in two pregnancies. Jaycee gave birth to the children in that same shed.

Federal officers visited Garrido’s home on dozens of occasions while he was on supervision. Because of heavy caseloads largely comprising people who didn’t need intensive supervision, U.S. probation and parole officials failed to see what was really going on. They missed Jaycee Dugard altogether because they couldn’t give Garrido and others like him the attention they required. Sadly, the problem has only gotten worse.