WORK RELEASE, COULD THERE BE ISSUES?

WORK RELEASE, COULD THERE BE ISSUES?

January 25, 2008

Washington-One burning question is whether Staniszewski release for council meetings and city business could be a problem for the city.

Consider that most employers take responsibility for their employees time and actions while on work release. The question will arise, just who is responsible for Staniszewski if he is allowed to attend meetings and conduct city business while on work release.

Most work release programs specify a time to be released and a time to return, but given the fact that council meetings can run longer or shorter than planned this could cause issues on both accounts.

All of this of course avoids the fundamental problem of a person that is held to the public trust being a prisoner. How can anyone effectively manage the public’s interest from a jail cell? How can Staniszewski handle the emergencies that happen with the street department during snow storms? What about other road emergencies, no matter how rare? Will Mayor Spossey be forced to handle both the street department and the police?

Consider that everytime Staniszewski votes on issues of law and order or in fact any issue of which there is disagreement, many in the public will question his very right to stand and speak on the issue given his own imprisonment.

Most employers have to agree to work with a work release program and it should be the city of Washington’s right to avoid this public disaster and say no to Staniszewski being able to come to and vote on the city’s business.