Two Convicted Murderers Mistakenly Let Out of Prison in Florida

Reason

Convicted murderers Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, who were both serving their sentences at the Franklin Correctional Institution in Florida, were mistakenly let free by authorities thanks to what Department of Corrections Secretary Michael Crews describes as "…fraudulent modifications that had been made to court orders." 

Although Walker and Jenkins were released on Oct. 8 and Sept. 27 respectively, CNN reports that law enforcement only knew of the situation on Tuesday. 

From CNN:

(CNN) -- The state of Florida is asking for help in locating two former prison inmates that they realized should still be current inmates.

Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, both 34, are considered "escapees" by authorities, but their prison break wasn't exactly a scene out of "The Shawshank Redemption."

Follow this story and more at Reason 24/7.

Spice up your blog or Website with Reason 24/7 news and Reason articles. You can get the widgets here. If you have a story that would be of interest to Reason's readers please let us know by emailing the 24/7 crew at [e-mail], or tweet us stories at @reason247.

Comments

[Rich]

Hey, Florida -- quit swiping Maryland's style!

[sarcasmic]

What's the over-under on these guys being shot when the cops catch up to them?

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

BROOKS WAS HERE

[sloopyinca]

Doubtful.

[Loki]

Still more accurate than real cops.

[Paul.]

No chance, they sound like real criminals.

[Suthenboy]

I cant help but think of the scene from Idiocracy where Joe Bauers escapes prison by telling a gaurd that he is supposed to be leaving instead of arriving.

[IamNotEvil]

"The fat guy sat on my face and everything."

Though the escape prevention plan the second time was funny too.

[Copernicus]

"Crucifixion of freedom?"

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

thanks to what Department of Corrections Secretary Michael Crews describes as "...fraudulent modifications that had been made to court orders."

Wait, what? Some court clerk modified the orders? What does that even mean?

[sarcasmic]

It means someone fucked up, but nothing will happen because they're government.

[Episiarch]

It could mean that they had someone inside the clerk's office who modified the orders so they would be released, which would be a pretty slick operation. Or it could be what sarcasmic says. Though the use of the word "fraudulent" makes me think it might be the former, because you don't describe a fuck-up as "fraudulent".

[sloopyinca]

Though the use of the word "fraudulent" makes me think it might be the former, because you don't describe a fuck-up as "fraudulent".
I don't think the Newspeak Government Edition has made it to Florida yet...you know, because of the teabaggerz shutting down the government and all. Mr. Crews will be issuing a correction and/or retraction in the very near future.

[Ken Shultz]

It would make for a good hacker story.

If it were a made for TV movie, some hipster in the clerk's office would notice a lion face emoticon on the release order and become suspicious.

[Hugh Akston]

"fraudlent" is a nice CYA term that blames the error on some nebulus boogeyman instead of some idiot in the Florida Dept. of Corrections using the wrong stamp.

[sarcasmic]

The use of the passive voice leads me to believe it was an internal fuck-up.

[BakedPenguin]

Frauds were committed, felons were released.

[Frodo Teabaggins]

Another consequence of letting the republicans run the government workers out and almost bankrupt our country!

[jesse.in.mb]

I can't tell if you're trying too hard, or not trying hard enough.

[sloopyinca]

Just applaud the fact that he has a clever name. The rest is just him wanting cake.

[jesse.in.mb]

Is he aware the cake is a lie?

[Hugh Akston]

Speaking of cake, did you guys participate in the erfquake drill today?

[jesse.in.mb]

Ooh, did I miss the Great ShakeOut? All the fun things happen when I'm out of town.

[playa manhattan]

No, but the EAS shut my tv down to remind me to participate.

P.S. How do I participate in my own house? Run around screaming?

[Hugh Akston]

You're supposed to panic and then vote for politicians who will vote for more safety and emergency services spending. KEEP THE FEAR ALIVE

[PM]

NEVAR FORGET

[Agammamon]

They all want cake, they all do.

[Frodo Teabaggins]

Don't try to manipulate the converation and confuse me, Kochsucker.

[jesse.in.mb]

Your spelling is terrible. It's spelled "cocksucker".

[RBS]

Kochsucker always reminds of how retarded these people are. Since "coke" sucker isn't really an insult.

[Frodo Teabaggins]

ha! You are the one who is stupid since you don't even know this whole site is run by the Kochs, two wealthy brothers who hate the government because it gets in the way of their oil and industrial conglomerate!

[PM]

My billionaire can beat up your billionaire!

[playa manhattan]

Hear that Jesse? You didn't even know!

[sloopyinca]

How come only Kara, Baby Reason, A Serious Man and I were the only ones at the Reason shindig last week? What's wrong with you fucking malcontents.

[RBS]

Some of us live on the east coast.

[PM]

Some of us live on the east coast.

The rest of us got sidetracked bickering about who was really a libertarian on the way there, and by the time we got done, not only had the event come and gone, but it turned out none of us were real libertarians.

[Hugh Akston]

Any gathering that requires me to wear pants isn't worth the effort.

[sloopyinca]

I meant the SoCal people on here. Hugh, I knew your reason for not coming, so there was no need to repeat it. But where were the rest of you?

[jesse.in.mb]

What's wrong with you fucking malcontents.

I was busy at work. I saw that you posted something on AM links (timezone traitor!) but I didn't have a chance to follow up. Disappointed I missed meeting y'all.

[Hugh Akston]

Oh yeah reeeeeeal disappointed. Just like you'll be super sad to miss out on the QC's 100th anniversary party this weekend?

[jesse.in.mb]

Aww, I have a terrible hankering for Golden Triangle now. You know I'm out of town for work and you just HAD to rub it in.

*runs out of room sobbing*

[Hugh Akston]

I'm sure we'll eat there at some point this weekend. I'll take pictures and rub them in your traitorous face.

[jesse.in.mb]

Damn it, I'm going to go eat my feelings should I go and get beignets and coffee with chicory or oyster poboys? I can't decide.

[Anonymous Coward]

You know the KOSMUHTARIUNS of Reason don't like to play with us midwestern yokels.

[Paul.]

Not everyone lives in burbank.

[sloopyinca]

I am intrigued by your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[jesse.in.mb]

Troll harder Teabaggins. Assume we already know the stupid trolling 101 shit you're throwing around and jump to something interesting. Jump to what you learned in your Trolling 250 seminar breakout sessions, or possibly call in one of your trolling TAs.

[PM]

or possibly call in one of your trolling TAs.

Oh, great work. Light the Tony signal why don't ya...

[Brandon]

This has to be a spoof. Or Mary.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Here's the really fun part in the CNN story:

"While Nieves and other law enforcement search for the inmates, Crews says he'll be conducting a "vigorous and thorough review" of other such prison releases to make sure there aren't others out there who shouldn't be."

[Eduard van Haalen]

"Yeah, we're especially going to re-examine the case of inmate whom we let out after showing us a court order. When we called the judge later, he said he didn't recall writing any release orders in crayon on a length of toilet paper."

[Drake]

A couple articles down, Reason is bitching about the high incarceration rate. Make up your mind!

[sloopyinca]

Pretty sure nobody on reason or in the comments has complained about keeping murderers incarcerated. Unless, of course, they were railroaded.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Yeah - shorter (or no) sentences for drug-war offenders, more room for violent felons. And more time to be more careful in processing their release paperwork.

[Ken Shultz]

Why this story? I don't know either.

I suspect Feeney just picked the latest story out of the 24/7 feed 'cause it was time for another one.

[Ken Shultz]

It could have just as easily been about the brains of football players.

Incidentally, I knew a lot of football players before they became football players, and a lot of them may have had profound abnormalities to begin with.

[PM]

It could have just as easily been about the brains of football players.

That would have been a real short article now, wouldn't it?

[font_of_stupidity]

Finally, some weird news out of Florida.

[prolefeed]

"They committed violent crimes," Capt. Angelo Nieves told CNN. "The best thing for them to do is to turn themselves in."

The convicted felons prolly have a different view of what's best for them.

[Agammamon]

Well, its either turn themselves in an get beaten for 'escaping' or get tracked down and get shot for 'escaping'.

I love how the DOC screws up and releases an inmate but the *inmate* is deemed to have escaped - like it was *his* obligation to double-check the release order.

[pan fried wylie]

like it was *his* obligation to double-check the release order.

"You're being released."

"Really?"

"What's that supposed to mean? You want a kick in the teeth?"

[Loki]

Prisoner: "I'm actually supposed to be getting out of prison."

Prison Guard: [slaps Prisoner on the back of the head] "You're supposed to be in that line, dumbass!"