The Economist
November 2004

Who let that man out?

Guy Velella, a former state senator, was sentenced last May to a year in prison for accepting $137,000 in bribes, and then released three months later. But on November 8th the New York City Law Department ruled that the Local Conditional Release Commission, a city agency that can grant early release to first-time offenders serving short sentences in city jails, illegally signed off on his release. The investigation found that the commission rarely met, barely kept records and often lacked the legally mandated number of board members; in Mr Velella's case, they also found that the agency allowed him to re-apply too soon after his first application was rejected.

Thousands of releases may have to be reviewed as a result of the investigation, and both Manhattan's District Attorney's office and the City Council have scheduled hearings to discuss the matter. Mr Bloomberg is especially red-faced, as he was forced to admit that he had never heard of the agency before. He forced the commission's chairman and its entire board to resign. Mr Velella, meanwhile, must re-apply for release and may be back in jail before the end of the year.

© 2004 The Economist