Today, Assemblymember Monica Wallace (D-Lancaster) joined parole officers and representatives of the Public Employees Federation to call for changes to the state’s parole system to protect public safety and hold parolees accountable for violating the terms of their release. Their call followed an incident in which a convicted murderer, Edward Kindt, who was released on parole in March 2023, absconded from a transitional housing facility and returned to the Salamanca community where he committed the crime, raising alarm and retraumatizing members of the victim’s family.

Assemblymember Wallace and local parole officers are advocating for legislation (A4447/S1813) that would strengthen penalties for parole violations. Assemblymember Wallace introduced the legislation after the 2021 passage of the Less Is More Act, which limited the ability to send parolees back to prison for “technical” parole violations. While well-intended, Wallace opposed that legislation in 2021, believing it to create a risk to the public by allowing parolees to violate release conditions without any consequences.

“Parole is not a right; it is a privilege granted to allow individuals the chance to serve the rest of their sentence in the community,” said Assemblymember Wallace. “But that release comes with conditions intended to protect the public and to ensure the parolee will not reoffend. When a parolee violates his conditions of release, he needs to be held accountable.”

According to parole officers, the Less Is More Act restrictions tied their hands in holding Kindt accountable for prior parole violations and may limit his sentence for absconding. Assemblymember Wallace’s legislation would restore the parole officers’ authority and increase the penalties for parolees who create a risk to public safety or abscond.

“Convicted murderers like Edward Kindt, who are offered the opportunity to serve the remainder of their sentence on parole, but who flee from supervision by their parole officers, should be reincarcerated immediately,” said Gina Lopez, leader of the Public Employees Federation Parole Division #236. “They should have their parole revoked until a judge can make a determination on their case. This misguided law is not helping parolees get their lives back on track, and it is not keeping New York communities safe.”

“The Kindt case is Exhibit A as to what is wrong with the Less is More Act legislation,” said Assemblymember Wallace. “These were very serious violations by an individual convicted of horrific crimes. We must fix this legislation as soon as possible before someone gets hurt or killed.”