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| Policy changes announced in wake of mistaken release of 2 killers from prison |
| By orlandosentinel.com - s R. Hernández, Jeff Weiner and Henry Pierson Curtis |
| Published: 10/22/2013 |
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As authorities continue their nationwide manhunt for a pair of convicted killers accused of conning their way out of lifetime prison sentences, corrections officials announced a policy change Friday intended to ensure they don't get fooled again. Officials also confirmed that Charles Bernard Walker and Joseph Ivan Jenkins walked into the Orange County Jail days after they got out of prison — not to turn themselves in, but to re-enter society. Jenkins and Walker, both 34, arrived at the jail Sept. 30 and Oct. 11, respectively, to register as felons, a requirement for newly released convicts that includes getting fingerprinted. Within days, authorities would realize that the pair never should have gotten out of prison: Corrections officials had been duped by fraudulent court orders that said their sentences had been reduced. The Florida Department of Corrections told judges across the state that, in light of the forgeries, orders that modify inmate sentences will now have to be verified by a judge before they're carried out. "In light of the potential for fraudulent use of court papers, we believe that the additional step... is an important safeguard in ensuring the integrity of judicial process," corrections Secretary Michael Crews said in a letter to the state's chief judges. Crews did not respond to additional questions from the Orlando Sentinel. At a news conference Friday, Sheriff Jerry Demings said his agency is responsible for finding the men who are now on the loose due to the "system's breakdown." He called the situation "frustrating" for law officers. Demings announced that a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to each man will be advertised on electronic billboards across Orange County. Read More. |
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