Restitution problems draw fire from lawmakers

Lawmakers sharply criticized the state Parole and Probation Division on Tuesday for failing to collect restitution from parolees and not even being able to say how much is going uncollected.

Members of the Legislative Commission reacted after being told by auditors that Parole and Probation doesn't know how many offenders are required to pay restitution, how many are behind in those payments, the total owed to victims and how much those offenders still owe when they get discharged from parole.

"This is just appalling," said Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas. "We enact legislation to help victims, make it a public policy of this state, and the division cannot even identify the people who owe restitution."

She said one constituent told her the payments stopped when the inmate was discharged from parole, and division officials said they were powerless to make him pay.

"They want my 82-year-old constituent to sue the criminal," said Buckley. "This is completely unacceptable."

Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, who chairs the commission, said the division blames the lapse on the fact it has had several different directors in four years.

Legislative Auditor Gary Crews told the commission that division officials say they will have better information once a new computer is operating and that things are improving under the direction of Richard Wyett, who was recently named to head Parole and Probation.

"I'm just totally outraged that we never get these problems corrected," she said, adding that a change in management is no excuse for not doing the job.

She was joined by commission members Sens. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, and Jon Porter, R-Las Vegas.

Assemblyman Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, called for a strong letter from auditors to parole officials informing them there is no excuse for not having better records and make a much stronger effort to collect restitution.

"We need to tell them to fix it, and if it's not done I think we should seek serious legislative consequences next session," said Buckley.