By BRENDAN SCOTT
June 17, 2008
ALBANY - Paterson administration officials huddled with lawmakers yesterday, scrambling to craft legislation to block the release of hundreds of killers, robbers and thugs who have been improperly sentenced.
The state is currently detaining the violent felons - and monitoring thousands more on parole - in violation of an April ruling by the state's highest court.
They were never told during sentencing that they would have to spend years on parole supervision after finishing their prison terms, The Post reported yesterday.
The Paterson administration has asked an Albany court for injunction to allow it hold onto such inmates as it organizes new sentencing hearings.
"The overall perspective is that this is a mess and that we need to move expeditiously on it," said Michael Balboni, Paterson's top public safety adviser. "The question is what are the details."
Senate Republican leaders have pledged support for any legislation put forward by the governor.
But Democrats are concerned any law that retroactively doles out punishment to criminals could be ruled unconstitutional.
