HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Federal prosecutors in a court filing Tuesday expressed their opposition to a request by former Connecticut governor and convicted felon John G. Rowland to be released early from the probationary period stemming from his most recent conviction so he can devote himself more fully to his job with a prison ministry.
Rowland, 62, is director of development for the Northeast region of Prison Fellowship, a Christian group that ministers to convicts.
Prison Fellowship does meaningful work, federal prosecutors wrote in their filing, but said Rowland is a high risk of re-offending, the Hartford Court reported.
“The defendant’s criminal history has seen him repeatedly reject society’s rules in favor of his own ego and financial self-interest and the court should be sufficiently concerned with the possibility of recidivism here that continued supervision is appropriate,” prosecutors wrote.
Rowland in his request last month said as long as his three-year probationary term is in effect he is prevented by security rules in some states from escorting donors and volunteers into prisons, hampering his ability to do his job.
The Republican was Connecticut’s governor from 1995 to 2004.
Rowland’s first sentence stemmed from a public corruption scandal when he was governor, and the second related to a plot to hide political consulting work for two congressional campaigns. He was released on probation in May 2018.
The judge did not indicate when she would rule.
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