Marion Co. Dist. Attorney’s Office – 03/11/21 2:28 PM
The Marion County District Attorney was recently notified that the Governor was considering early release of prison inmates who helped battle Oregon wildfires in this past year. The list of prison inmates provided to District Attorney Offices throughout the state includes offenders serving time for Ballot Measure 11 Mandatory Minimum offenses and other violent person crimes and would allow the reduction of their sentences for up to one year.
On the list provided, 16 of the 18 individual offenders from Marion County are serving sentences for crimes (among others) that include the following:
Manslaughter in the First Degree
Kidnapping in the First Degree
Kidnapping in the Second Degree
Assault in the First Degree with a Firearm
Robbery in the First Degree
Assault in the Second Degree (including Strangulation Constituting Domestic Violence & Menacing Constituting Domestic Violence)
Unlawful Use of a Weapon
Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Assault in the Fourth Degree Constituting Domestic Violence (Felony)
Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson said:
“I will be informing the Governor and the Department of Corrections of my objection to the early release of any felon who has perpetrated violence upon another person or unlawfully used firearms or weapons to commit their crimes. While these people may have assisted during a crisis, there is an important distinction between these offenders and our first responders and law-abiding community members who heroically did the same. Each of these offenders has a victim who deserves justice. Each of these offenders chose to hurt another person. Each of these offenders put our community at risk with their violent behavior. Releasing them early poses a risk to public safety and directly undermines the faith and confidence that victims have a right to expect in our criminal justice system.”
The Marion County District Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the entire list from the Department of Corrections and contacting all victims who will be affected by these potential releases.
