While In The State Legislature, Cooper Cast Key Vote To Allow Early Parole For Drug Traffickers, Kidnappers, Rapist And Sex Offenders, To “Limit the State’s Prison Population”
In his run for Senate, former Governor Roy Cooper’s record on crime has been used by Republicans to undermine Cooper’s claim to be a “moderate.” His decision to release at least 3,500 inmates early through a collusive settlement with progressive organizations under the guise of addressing concerns about COVID has received substantial attention.
However, in 1989, Cooper was the deciding vote on a controversial early parole legislation that would allow criminals out to limit the prison population. (Sound familiar?). The article from the Hickory Daily Record in 1989, says that Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Roy Cooper (D-Nash) “cast the deciding vote,” helping get the legislation out of committee
At the time several Democrats raised concerns about the bill, here are some quotes from the article:
“The Public is going to be somewhat concerned about the legislature saying the prison population in our state cannot exceed 18,000 when we get up on the floor to mandate prison sentences for people who violate the law,” said Rep. George Miller, D-Durham.
Rep. H.M. “Mickey” Michaux, D-Durham, cited similar worried when he offered the amendment to eliminate the possibly of parole for objectionable criminals such as drug traffickers.
Rep. Dan Blue, D-Wake agreed it was “irresponsible to let out drug traffickers.”
“Roy Cooper has spent 40 years turning North Carolina into a revolving door for murderers, rapists, and violent career criminals to terrorize innocent people and dodge accountability for their heinous crimes. Cooper treated public safety like a joke, and no one trusts him to change.” - RNC Spokeswoman Emma Hall
The 1989 vote to expand early parole, demonstrates that Cooper’s policy position has been outside the mainstream. Here are some other examples of Cooper’s soft-on-crime record:
Cooper entered into a collusive settlement with progressive groups to release over 3,500 criminals early, including drug dealers, rapists, murderers, and child predators. Nearly half went on to reoffend.
As Attorney General, failed to protect the victims of sexual assault time and time again, leaving more than 15,000 rape kits untested. The state legislature even had to pass a law to remove the backlog of justice Cooper created.
In the waning days of his time as Governor, Cooper commuted the sentences of 15 convicted killers.
