N.J. parole officers protest furloughs

TRENTON - New Jersey parole officers held a Statehouse protest yesterday to object to the first of many anticipated unpaid days off for state workers, calling the time a vacation for criminals.

Parole officers argue they should be treated the same as police and corrections officers, who were deemed essential to public safety and exempted from the recession-inspired furloughs.

More than 400 parole officers have been furloughed: About 35 who monitor juvenile offenders were off on Friday and 375 were furloughed yesterday. Only officers who supervise sex offenders and parolees wearing ankle monitors were allowed on the job.

Kip Astrom, president of the Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 326, estimates that more than 5,000 parolees, including gang members and other violent offenders, went unsupervised yesterday.

"They're probably out there recruiting today," said Cheryl Annese, who supervises an estimated 40 former gang members in Camden County.

Annese was one of dozens of officers in front of the Statehouse holding signs and chanting, "Public safety first."

Shawn Dunphy, a Union County parole officer, said he had no doubt his parolees knew that he wasn't working.

"[Tuesday] was my reporting day, and I had to tell my parolees to come on another day," he said.

"Now they start the party," added Jim Rautch, a regional supervisor. "They know there's no chance that someone will come and knock on their door unexpectedly."

The bulk of New Jersey's state workforce was forced to take unpaid time off on Friday or yesterday, giving about 44,000 state workers a four-day weekend.

Gov. Corzine ordered the furloughs to help close a budget gap. Thirteen additional furlough days are planned through next June but haven't been scheduled.

State worker unions are fighting the furloughs along with wage freezes Corzine is demanding. The governor says the measures are better than layoffs.