Illinois parole official resigns after vote to release violent felon, which resulted in death of a child

SPRINGFIELD, IL - Recently, the tragic incident involving Crosetti Brand, Laterria Smith, and her son Jayden Perkins captured public attention. This crime was earlier reported by Law Enforcement Today, shedding light on the sequence of events leading up to the horrifying attack.

LeAnn Miller, a member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, resigned from her position after recommending the release of Brand, a 37-year-old felon with a history of violence against women.

Brand's release from prison was followed by an attack on Smith, a pregnant woman, and the fatal stabbing of her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins, who heroically stepped in to protect his mother, in their Chicago apartment.

Miller's resignation came after public outrage over the board's decision to parole Brand despite his repeated violations of orders of protection and threats against Smith.

The incident prompted Governor J.B. Pritzker to order a revamp of procedures for dealing with domestic violence cases.

“It is clear that evidence in this case was not given the careful consideration that victims of domestic violence deserve and I am committed to ensuring additional safeguards and training are in place to prevent tragedies like this from happening again," Pritzker said in a statement.

Brand had a history of violence and had served half of a 16-year sentence for attacking another ex-partner in 2015.

Despite being accused of contacting Smith, who had an order of protection against him, Brand was released on parole in October. He was sent back to prison in February after being accused of attempting to break into Smith's apartment and threatening her.

However, during a hearing before the Prisoner Review Board, Brand denied the allegations, and his lawyer provided evidence suggesting no violations of his movement restrictions.

The board, which included members Ken Tupy and Krystal Tison, concurred with Miller's draft order to release Brand. The decision was made despite Smith's claims and an active order of protection against Brand. 

In response to the controversy, Pritzker ordered the Prisoner Review Board to collaborate with experts and advocates to expand training in handling domestic violence cases. He also emphasized the need for additional safeguards, training, and legislative changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Additionally, the board and the Department of Corrections will review procedures for sharing information on cases involving domestic violence to determine if any changes are necessary.

The incident involving Brand, Smith, and her son underscored challenges for the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in evaluating parole decisions, especially in cases related to domestic violence.

Miller's resignation amid the controversy prompted discussions about the independence and effectiveness of the board's decision-making process, leading to calls for potential reforms to enhance safety measures.

 
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Comments

J

Next time, bring the rope...

Richard

Such a tragedy could have been prevented by anyone with common sense. Rationalizing doesn't work when killers are being dealt with! Ken Tupy and Krystal Tison, concurred with Miller's draft order to release Brand. The decision was made despite Smith's claims and an active order of protection against Brand. All of them should be fired or go to jail preferably. They own the murdering of that family!

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