Parole Board member vents about venue

by Nick Delgado

Guam - The Department of Corrections is taking the hot seat detailing their headquarters move out of the DNA building and back to the Mangilao prison. Senator Adolpho Palacios is concerned that the office spaces need to be more accessible to the public, however, DepCor director Jose San Agustin explained having the offices at the prison saves them thousands in rent.

Parole Board member Soledad Chargualaf says the facility is not safe for anyone to just visit, which she added is a major reason the board has not met in the past four months, saying, "He's saying he only has five parole officers to guard us, all of those families and if there is an outpour of dissatisfaction up there. I'm sure five parole officers is not going to protect us and that's my feeling."

Palacios wants to meet personally with the Parole Board members to identify where funds can be transferred from for office space to hold parole hearings. The committee also discussed Bill 400, which would allow the parole board to deliberate in a closed meeting.