Missouri promete reparar su sistema de libertad condicional, pero los problemas persisten

2025-10-10

El articulo analiza los intentos fallidos de Missouri por reformar su sistema de libertad condicional, que continua mostrando graves fallas en transparencia y justicia pese a las ordenes judiciales.

<h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.7999999999999998;text-align: center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Missouri says it’s fixing its parole system, but problems remain</h1><span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Durante casi una década, Amy Malinowski y su equipo del Centro de Justicia MacArthur han encabezado los esfuerzos para reformar el sistema de libertad condicional en Missouri. Todo comenzó con una serie de demandas legales que buscaban exponer las fallas estructurales de este sistema.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For nearly a decade, Amy Malinowski and her team at the MacArthur Justice Center have led the push to reform Missouri’s parole system. It all began with a series of lawsuits aimed at exposing the structural failures within the system.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Los casos denunciaban que muchos presos eran reincorporados constantemente al sistema penitenciario por infracciones técnicas no delictivas o por acusaciones sin fundamento de haber cometido nuevos crímenes. Además, se señalaba que el estado negaba a los liberados condicionales de bajos recursos el derecho a tener un abogado, dejándolos vulnerables ante procedimientos complejos y confusos.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The lawsuits claimed that many individuals were repeatedly sent back to prison for non-criminal technical violations or unsubstantiated accusations of new offenses. They also alleged that the state routinely denied indigent parolees the right to legal counsel, leaving them defenseless in a confusing and complex process.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Para los demandantes, el mayor problema era la falta de debido proceso. Muchas personas regresaban a prisión sin saber exactamente por qué ni tener oportunidad real de defenderse. Como resultado, las cárceles del estado se saturaron, con Missouri registrando una de las tasas más altas del país de reingreso por violaciones a la libertad condicional o la libertad bajo palabra.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For the plaintiffs, the main issue was the lack of due process. Many people were returned to prison without knowing why or being given a fair chance to defend themselves. As a result, Missouri’s prisons became overcrowded, with one of the highest percentages in the nation of inmates re-incarcerated due to probation or parole violations.

<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">El sistema, según Malinowski, estaba completamente roto. Lo sorprendente fue que el propio estado terminó admitiendo que estaba violando los derechos constitucionales de los liberados condicionales. Ante esta admisión, el juez federal Stephen Bough ordenó a Missouri desarrollar nuevas reglas para proteger a los acusados en estos procesos.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">According to Malinowski, the system was completely broken. Surprisingly, the state itself ultimately admitted it was violating the constitutional rights of parolees. Following this admission, U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough ordered Missouri to create new rules to protect the rights of those facing parole revocation.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">El estado apeló la decisión, y aunque el Tribunal del Octavo Circuito coincidió en gran parte con el juez, pidió algunos ajustes en la orden. Tras un año de monitoreo de los cambios implementados, Bough emitió una orden final en enero, estableciendo 18 requisitos específicos que el estado debía cumplir en los casos de revocación de libertad condicional.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The state appealed the decision, and while the Eighth Circuit Court largely agreed with the judge, it requested some revisions. After a year of monitoring the implemented changes, Judge Bough issued his final order in January, outlining 18 specific requirements for the state to follow in parole revocation cases.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Al asumir el cargo, el gobernador Mike Kehoe firmó una orden ejecutiva para crear un grupo de trabajo encargado de reescribir las reglas del proceso de revocación. Presentó la medida como una iniciativa de seguridad pública, sin mencionar el largo conflicto legal con el Centro de Justicia MacArthur. Aun así, Malinowski se mostró inicialmente optimista.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Upon taking office, Governor Mike Kehoe signed an executive order creating a task force to rewrite the rules of the parole revocation process. He framed it as a public safety initiative, without referencing the long legal battle with the MacArthur Justice Center. Despite this, Malinowski was initially hopeful.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sin embargo, ese optimismo se desvaneció en julio. Los nombramientos del comité estaban dominados por miembros de las fuerzas del orden, con solo un defensor público incluido. Además, no se publicaban agendas ni avisos de reuniones, lo que llevó a Malinowski a presentar una queja bajo la Ley de Transparencia. El Departamento de Correcciones respondió que no existían actas ni registros públicos de las sesiones.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That optimism faded by July. The committee appointments were heavily dominated by law enforcement, with only one public defender included. Additionally, no meeting agendas or public notices were released, prompting Malinowski to raise concerns under Missouri’s Sunshine Law. The Department of Corrections responded that no agendas or public records from the meetings existed.

<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">El proceso, que se suponía debía aumentar la transparencia, comenzó de forma poco prometedora. Cuando finalmente se publicó el informe del grupo de trabajo, tenía apenas cinco páginas. Si bien reafirmaba algunos de los requisitos ya establecidos por el juez —como garantizar el acceso a abogados y testigos—, ofrecía pocas medidas nuevas o significativas.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The process, which was intended to improve transparency, began on a shaky note. When the task force finally released its report, it was only five pages long. Although it reaffirmed some of the judge’s existing requirements—such as ensuring access to attorneys and witnesses—it offered few new or meaningful reforms.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Malinowski señaló que el único cambio con impacto real parecía ser el aumento del número de delegados permitidos en las audiencias. Además, la falta de registros públicos hacía imposible determinar si las recomendaciones se basaban en evidencia o simplemente en opiniones.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Malinowski noted that the only potentially impactful change was the increase in the number of delegates allowed at hearings. Furthermore, the absence of public records made it impossible to determine whether the group’s recommendations were evidence-based or merely speculative.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ahora, el gobernador Kehoe debe decidir si adoptará las recomendaciones del informe para cumplir con la orden judicial. Mientras tanto, el caso original aún no ha terminado, ya que el estado está apelando el pago de los honorarios legales al Centro de Justicia MacArthur, intentando retrasar su obligación de rendir cuentas por un sistema que, a ojos de muchos, sigue roto.<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: italic; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, Governor Kehoe must decide whether to adopt the report’s recommendations to comply with the judge’s order. Meanwhile, the original case remains unresolved, as the state continues to appeal the payment of attorney fees to the MacArthur Justice Center—delaying accountability for a system that many still see as broken.

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Missouri promete reparar su sistema de libertad condicional, pero los problemas persisten

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