Jackson, 29 others accidentally released early and committed crimes, says Dept. of Corrections

Published 11:12 am Tuesday, February 9, 2016

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The Department of Corrections has identified 80 inmates accidentally released from prison early over the last four years who have gone on to commit other crimes or violate law enforcement requirements set upon them, including the man accused of killing his fiancé in a hit-and-run accident in Nov.

Robert T. Jackson was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide and a hit-and-run that killed Bellevue resident and mother of two Lindsay Hill on Nov. 12. It was later revealed that he should have been incarcerated at the time of the crime.

He was one of more than 1,500 inmates who were accidentally released from prison early between Dec. 2011 and Dec. 2015, according to information released by the Department of Corrections on Feb. 4. Out of that number, approximately eight percent were determined to still owe time on their convictions.

Jackson is currently in jail awaiting trial for Hill’s death. He will have to finish the time owed on his previous sentence regardless of how his trial turns out.

“The time Robert Jackson owes (the department) because of the sentencing miscalculation is a separate matter from his current charges. Jackson will earn time served for the time he is currently in jail on the new charges but that earned time will be applied toward the charges for which he is currently in jail, not the previous sentence for which he still owes time,” said Department of Corrections spokesperson Andrew Garber.

Approximately 80 inmates were accidentally released early from prison and committed a crime, violated their supervision requirements or failed to report when a warrant was issued after their accidental release. Jackson is one of 30 who committed crimes during a window in which they should have been incarcerated.

Most have been apprehended since the department computer system glitch was announced, but there are still warrants out for the arrest of nine individuals.

In total, at least 116 people have been identified for return to prison.

Most of the inmates who were accidentally released early — approximately 67 percent — earned credit for the number of days they were out of prison without committing a crime and will not have to return to prison, per state law.

Department Secretary Dan Pacholke offered his deepest condolences on Dec. 27 to Hill’s family.

“Nothing I can say will bring back Ms. Hill. I deeply regret that this happened,” Pacholke said. “On behalf of the Department of Corrections, I apologize.”

Jackson’s trial is scheduled to start on July 6.

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