Supervising Parolees
* Re “Relocation of Parole Office Is Protested,” March 6.
As a person currently on parole, I read with interest the comments of local activists and City Councilmen Joel Wachs and Richard Alarcon regarding relocation of the San Fernando Valley parole office from Van Nuys Boulevard to Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
As I am required to do by law, I report to my parole agent at least once a month to keep him up-to-date regarding my employment, living arrangements and any other issue that may come up. I have never witnessed any criminal activity or acts of vandalism at either office. I think most parolees have no desire to hang around the parole office any longer than is needed.
The energy and concern for the issues raised by the activists and city officials should instead be focused on cleaning up our streets of gangs and drugs, creating safe areas for children to be free to grow and learn, and on creating jobs and a sense of worth so young people will not make the mistake most of us on parole made to end up here.
Don’t worry so much about the parolee being supervised. Instead, be concerned with the criminal element that runs unchecked throughout our city, outgunning the people our tax dollars pay to protect us.
JAMES COX
Santa Clarita
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