New system aims to help track parole violators


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SALT LAKE CITY — When convicted criminals are put on parole, the get an early release from prison under the condition of good behavior.

But what happens when their behavior is not so good after their release? Do they go back to prison? Or do they remain free to violate their parole over and over again?

KSL Investigators found one man accused of violating his parole four times in a matter of months with no immediate consequences.

His name is Sean Henderson, and he was part of an earlier report by KSL Investigators in August.

He was arrested 11 times for DUI and found guilty nine of those times.

During the years in between those arrests up until the present, Henderson has spent a lot of time on parole. But in 2016, Adult Probation and Parole says he violated the terms and conditions of his parole four times.

  • Jan. 18, 2016: Henderson was found walking along the road intoxicated, a violation of his parole.
  • May 24, 2016: Court records show he got caught again, this time driving on a suspended license with no insurance, which is another violation of his parole.
  • July 1, 2016: With police dash cam rolling, police say Henderson rear-ended a minivan with a mother and her children inside. Again, he was driving on a suspended license. And again, it was a violation of his parole.
  • Aug. 13, 2016: Court records show Henderson was pulled over and found to have no insurance, no driver’s license, a baggy of heroin in his underwear, with a scale and another bag of heroin inside the car. Yet again, a violation of his parole. It was the fourth violation in seven months, with no immediate consequences.

“We can’t take action on a violation until we become aware of it,” said James Hudspeth, director of Adult Probation and Parole. “Typically, we would rely on law enforcement to notify us of that contact.”

Sean Henderson and KSL's Mike Headrick in August 2016. Photo: KSL TV
Sean Henderson and KSL's Mike Headrick in August 2016. Photo: KSL TV

Hudspeth said Henderson’s case is not unique, with convicted criminals breaking their parole or probation and little or nothing is done. Part of the problem, according to Hudspeth, is many times parole officers don’t even know a violation has taken place, raising the obvious question, why not?

The reality is, up until June of this year, AP&P was notified in two ways: One, if the officer on scene informed Adult Probation and Parole of the violation. And two, if the offender self-reported.

AP&P relied on a call from police or the convicted criminals to turn themselves in every time they violated their parole.

“There was a lot of offenders who did not self-report that. After his (Henderson) accident he did not disclose that to his agent,” Hudspeth said.

And even when his parole officer found out, Henderson did not go back to prison.

It wasn’t until KSL Investigators tracked Henderson down that AP&P seemed to take notice.

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One day after our story aired, court documents show Henderson’s parole officer paid a surprise visit to his home where the officer found meth, heroin and needles on Henderson. He was taken into custody and sent back to prison.

KSL Investigators asked Hudspeth if it was a coincidence Henderson was arrested the day after KSL's story aired.

“I wouldn’t say it was a coincidence,” said Hudspeth. “I would say we were alerted to offenses that were going on in the community.”

Alerted by KSL.

But it’s unclear if they were alerted six days prior when court records show Henderson driving on a revoked license with heroin dropping from his underwear.

He was not arrested. He was not booked into jail. Instead, Henderson was let go.

New email system

So, what’s the solution?

Right now, there is one officer assigned for every 70-80 parolees, so that’s a lot of people to keep tabs on.

And since AP&P says police are inconsistent in letting them know when a parolee breaks the law, people will likely keep doing it. Five months ago AP&P revamped the system. Instead of relying on a heads-up from police or a parolee ratting himself out, they’re relying on automatic email.

“So now, if they just run the driver’s license or if they run their vehicle then we receive that information through email," said Hudspeth.

AP&P has received tens of thousands of email notifications so far, just months into the new system, but it’s not foolproof.

James Hudspeth, director of Adult Probation and Parole, talks with KSL's Mike Headrick. Photo: KSL TV
James Hudspeth, director of Adult Probation and Parole, talks with KSL's Mike Headrick. Photo: KSL TV

The system was up and running when court records show Henderson was pulled over with no license and a couple of bags of heroin. Whether they got the email, got a call from police, or if Henderson called them and said he was busted again for violating his parole, KSL doesn’t know.

What KSL does know is police caught this nine-time DUI offender, who according to AP&P, violated parole over and over and over.

“Once they become a public safety risk, then we also take that action immediately,” Hudspeth said.

Adult Probation and Parole admits there are still kinks to work out, but it believes the new email system has been and will be successful in holding these parolees accountable.

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