Two top officials from the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have handed in their resignations following the release of a violent offender who then allegedly killed an 11-year-old child and attacked the boy's pregnant mother. Donald Shelton, the board’s chairman, and board member LeAnn Miller stepped down amid outcry over their decision to release Crosetti Brand — a man with a history of violence against women — from custody, just a day before the tragic incident occurred.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker praised Shelton for his years of service but the sentiment was not echoed for Miller. Pritzker stated, "The Prisoner Review Board must be able to operate independently as they review enormously difficult cases, but I believe LeAnn Miller has made the correct decision in stepping down from her role." Critics argue that the tragic outcome of Brand's release, who was accused of killing Jayden Perkins, the 11-year-old, on March 13, shows a failure to give due consideration to domestic violence evidence.
Miller and two others, Ken Tupy and Krystal Tison, did not find enough evidence against Brand regarding alleged parole violations, leading to his release, as per records obtained by the Chicago Tribune. Meanwhile, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, Brand's victim had previously sought an emergency order of protection and reported his attempts to stalk her, yet this red flag did not halt his release.
In the face of this controversy, the Pritzker administration has signaled changes in the board's training about domestic violence cases and a review of the current rules for case information reception. "As the administration continues to review the facts in this case, it may pursue any broader statutory or policy changes needed to strengthen PRB’s review of similar cases moving forward," said the governor's office. Republican leaders in the state, such as House Republican leader Tony McCombie, have called for an overhaul of the board, arguing lives were lost due to a lack of responsibility and due diligence.
The governor has pledged to work with the Illinois General Assembly on filling the vacancies on the board and on implementing "additional safeguards and training" to prevent further tragedies. In his remarks, Pritzker added, "My thoughts are with [the stabbed woman] as she recovers and with the entire family of Jayden Perkins as we mourn this tragic loss," according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
