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| N.J. Parole Board Director Admits Politics Could Influence Decisions |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 04/18/2003 |
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The executive director of the state parole board acknowledged there are no safeguards in place to prevent political influence from tainting the board's decisions. The admission comes as both state and federal investigators are examining whether the governor's office improperly intervened in the release of reputed mobster Angelo Prisco. In a hearing before the Senate budget committee, Sen. Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon, asked parole board executive director Michael Dowling if the state has tried to implement measures preventing politics from coloring the parole process. ''No,'' Dowling said. ''My answer to your question is no.'' The U.S. Attorney's Office is investigating claims that Gov. James E. McGreevey's chief of operations, James Davy, used his influence to help Prisco win parole. McGreevey has strongly denied the accusation. A reputed leader in the Genovese crime family, Prisco went to prison in 1998 for conspiracy and arson. He was freed last August. Dowling's response surprised Lance, who urged him to immediately put controls in place ''so the people of this state can be confident that convicted felons are not paroled based upon any political influence.'' Dowling said it would be inappropriate for him to conduct his own investigation while two agencies are examining the board's actions. But he has taken steps to begin to develop procedures to eliminate tainting the board. ''We are in the process so there is less likelihood of anybody interfering with these units,'' Dowling said. |
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