Dear PEF President Wayne Spence,

We watched your interview on Here and Now with Sandra Bookman to discuss the negative impacts of "Less is More" parole reform.

As you stated during the interview, you have been on the job for close to 29 years and this is the worst you have ever seen it.

Unfortunately, unlike yourself, a majority of Parole Officers are not close to retirement and will have to deal with the effects of "Less is More" for years to come. 

A major concern is Earned Time Credits (ETC), also known as 30 for 30. For those of you who are unaware of ETC, people on parole who abide by the rules get 30 days off for every 30 days of compliance. These credits apply retroactively for up to two years of earned credit.

ETC will significantly reduce the parolee population which in turn will reduce the number of Parole Officer positions. In order to counter ETC, Parole Officers will have to be granted eligibility to retire at any age with full benefits after 25 years of creditable service.

Furthermore, as the number of Parole Officer positions decrease, to strengthen our ranks at the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), we have to join the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA).

Times have changed and Parole Officers no longer work for the New York State Division of Parole (DOP). It's time for us to evolve as a group or things will continue to get worse for the job so many of us care about.

In solidarity,

New York State Parole Officers