A yearlong investigation into alleged wrongdoing by Los Angeles parole agents ended with no discipline because officials failed to act before the statute of limitations expired, reports the Los Angeles Times. Some of the agents suspected of wrongdoing were honored last week on the steps of the Capitol for “exemplary” work.
Corrections Director Jeanne Woodford has asked the state inspector general’s office to find out whether officials had intentionally delayed acting until it was too late to discipline the agents. She believes that “an honest mistake” had caused the case to “fall through the cracks.” The investigation into the Fugitive Apprehension Team has raised allegations of a coverup in the prison system. Begun a year ago, the probe focused on whether agents improperly disposed of drugs and drug paraphernalia seized from parolees, and whether they violated policy by cutting deals with ex-convicts, trading information for leniency on parole.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-prison28may28,1,138012.story?coll=la-home-local