New Paperwork To Keep Criminals Behind Bars
YAKIMA - KIMA broke the story this month of a paperwork snafu that led to the release of an accused killer. He's back in jail. But KIMA is still asking questions to find out what's been done to stop this from happening again?
We spoke with the prosecutor. He said changes are already in effect, And more are on the way.
Alexander Quintana was released from jail when a clerk mistakenly thought the bail reduction paperwork she got was for him. It was actually for a material witness in the case.
The director of the Yakima County Corrections department said both names were on the paperwork. Which was enough to confuse the jail staff and allow Quintana to walk away. The accused killer was back in jail 3 days later.
And Prosecutor Jim Hagarty tells KIMA changes were made to the current paperwork almost immediately. Starting with writing the letter M before the cause number, to represent "material witness".
" That should then tell the jail and the clerk that it relates to a material witness," said Hagarty.
But it doesn't stop there. The judge is also now writing a statement across the top of the document that reads, "this relates to the material witness and nothing else." And the prosecutors office is also writing in bold letters "material witness" across the bottom. So there can be no confusion.
These are temporary changes, until a more permanent fix is finalized.
Hagarty said, " We're in the process of revising our forms so we'll basically have a form with a material witness. They'll be able to bring that form up and it'll already have the M-number up there. It'll also have a place for the defendant's name but it won't be prominent on there."
The director of Yakima County Corrections says his staff also offered suggestions on the paperwork changes. And he said no one was reprimanded for the mistake. Hagarty says everyone in the system is aware of what took place and is working hard to make sure it never happens again.
The prosecutor says he doesn't expect the new forms will cost his office any more.
We spoke with the prosecutor. He said changes are already in effect, And more are on the way.
Alexander Quintana was released from jail when a clerk mistakenly thought the bail reduction paperwork she got was for him. It was actually for a material witness in the case.
The director of the Yakima County Corrections department said both names were on the paperwork. Which was enough to confuse the jail staff and allow Quintana to walk away. The accused killer was back in jail 3 days later.
And Prosecutor Jim Hagarty tells KIMA changes were made to the current paperwork almost immediately. Starting with writing the letter M before the cause number, to represent "material witness".
" That should then tell the jail and the clerk that it relates to a material witness," said Hagarty.
But it doesn't stop there. The judge is also now writing a statement across the top of the document that reads, "this relates to the material witness and nothing else." And the prosecutors office is also writing in bold letters "material witness" across the bottom. So there can be no confusion.
These are temporary changes, until a more permanent fix is finalized.
Hagarty said, " We're in the process of revising our forms so we'll basically have a form with a material witness. They'll be able to bring that form up and it'll already have the M-number up there. It'll also have a place for the defendant's name but it won't be prominent on there."
The director of Yakima County Corrections says his staff also offered suggestions on the paperwork changes. And he said no one was reprimanded for the mistake. Hagarty says everyone in the system is aware of what took place and is working hard to make sure it never happens again.
The prosecutor says he doesn't expect the new forms will cost his office any more.
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