The Democratic candidate for governor, Gaye Symington, is calling for an investigation of why the Vermont Department of Corrections recommended that convicted sex offender Michael Jacques be released from probation seven years early and without supervision.
The 42-year-old Jacques of Randolph is charged with kidnapping his niece, 12-year-old Brooke Bennett, on June 25th. Her body was found near Jacques’ home a week later.
Symington says Gov. Jim Douglas’ response so far to the actions of his administration’s Corrections Department has been unacceptably weak.
The outgoing House speaker says she takes a dim view of Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie’s call for a special session of the Legislature to enact new laws until there are assurances that the state’s current laws are being enforced adequately.