MEDICAL PAROLE, JUSTICE FOR WHOM?

California recently passed a new state law that allows inmates with dire health conditions to be released under “medical parole”.  The theory is that their disabilities are so debilitating that they are no longer a threat to society.  A Parole Board must approve release before any inmate is freed.   The law states that the prisoner must be “permanently medically incapacitated with a medical condition that renders him or her permanently unable to perform activities of basic daily living, and results in the prisoner requiring 24-hour care.”   

The legislation was not passed for compassionate reasons, but solely to save the state the tens of millions of dollars a year it costs to house these prisoners.  This law is an injustice to the victims who suffered because of the crimes these people committed against them.  I have no empathy for their health conditions.  Prison is not only meant to keep violent offenders out of society for safety’s sake, it is also designed to punish those who have committed such vile crimes.

 

One of the first prisoners to receive such a parole is Craig Lemke, who reportedly has brain tumors, needs feeding and breathing tubes and requires 24-hour care.  I could not find out how he came to be in this condition. He was healthy when he entered prison.

Lemke was a “three-strikes” inmate.  His criminal history goes back to 1981.  He resisted arrest.  He was found in possession of a sawed-off shotgun.  He drove under the influence.  He was convicted for petty theft.  He sold methamphetamine.  He committed burglary.  He stole a car.  On top of everything else, he repeatedly violated his parole.

He once even assaulted his own 77-year old grandmother and stole checks from her to pay for his heroin habit.  In 1994, he tied a man and his 15-year old son up at gunpoint, then ransacked their home and threatened them if they went to the police.  He was sentenced to seven years in prison for that particular crime.

Lemke’s criminal career became increasingly violent. In 2007, he was sentenced to 68 years to life in state prison for the home invasion robbery of an elderly couple that he knew!  He and his accomplice tied the couple up with electrical tape, destroyed their home, stole $2,000 of property and took six rifles.

His conviction was for two counts of first degree home invasion robbery, first degree burglary, three counts of elder abuse, grand theft of firearms, two on-bail enhancements.  That, combined with the previous two strikes gave him a minimum eligible parole date of July 1, 2071.  He would have died in prison and that is where he should die!

Lemke’s release is an example of “check-book” justice in reverse.  The state of California does not want to pay for this brutal man’s care so they released him.  Now, his 24-hour care will be paid for by some federal agency’s medical program.  In any scenario, taxpayers will be funding this man’s care.  At least if he remained in prison, maybe he would die sooner and save us all the $750,000 it takes to keep him alive every year.

Is it justice to release this brutal criminal?  Or is it injustice to the families who suffered because of his crimes?