To the Editor:

Stop finding fault with our hardworking police and correction officers as well as the Albany County sheriff [“Inmates claiming abuse during jail ‘shakedown’ seek documents as proof,” The Altamont Enterprise, Sept. 22, 2025]. Don’t let the criminals run the asylum.

My niece and her baby were murdered in Georgia by her husband who was serving in the United States Army. The Army immediately discharged him, and he went into the court system in Georgia. The court system said this wasn’t between us, her family, and the murderer, but between Georgia and the murderer.

We had no say, no communication — no nothing and he got only 20 years for her death, but he got life in prison because she was over seven months pregnant and the baby died because he waited for four hours before he turned himself in.

Twenty years after admitting he shot her twice in the back of the head while she was asleep as she sadly told him she was leaving as he treated her so badly. To make it worse for her family, he came up for parole in seven years and almost every year after that.

Where is that justice? Thankfully for us, the parole board let us talk and so the board saw Wendy as a person not a number who was dead at age 24 and parole has thankfully been denied although the officer told us he was out one time, and without any explanation to us, but he went back to prison and he’s still there. I feel the parole board in Georgia gets it.

My grandson was murdered in Colorado less than a week after he turned in drug dealers to the local police station — however, it was determined by those “police” that it was a suicide. There was no indication he was suicidal. I even talked to him the night before they found him. I wanted an investigation and my daughter said, “Mom, be careful. They will  come after us and it won’t bring Jon back.” She, too, knew.

My brother was hit by a drunk driver in his late 20s. The drunk driver was 18 and walked away with a slapped wrist as he was sentenced to only three years. My permanently disabled brother who spent months in the hospital and has had numerous surgeries is now in his 60s and his life was ruined — totally ruined — and there are no resources for him as a victim: None. And he struggles week to week to live on a small disability check week.

My granddaughter was strangled and left for dead. The coward ran to the law enforcement and turned himself in. He didn’t want my family finding him first. But what happens when he comes up for parole?  And my granddaughter struggles daily for what happened to her. Another victim with no resources.

I’m sorry but the way I see it our laws protect the criminals especially in New York state and the victims are left behind and their families suffer the rest of their lives.

Our system definitely needs to be revamped but stop listening to the criminals. They kill, injure, lie, and cheat and the victims left behind have no rights. Where’s the fight for all the victims of the criminals in our society?

I think we’re looking the wrong way at these crimes.

Betty Filkins

Westerlo