State board ‘traumatized’ rapist attacked again

A state review board that freed a convicted rapist is “traumatized” he may have reoffended, but noted a solid record when it comes to the recidivism rate among those who they release.

The Indeterminate Sentence Review Board determined Robert D. Hitt was fit for release after he served roughly 10 years in prison for raping a 19-year-old University of Washington student in 2001. Hitt could have served a life sentence.

“He had completed sex offender treatment, he had improved his disciplinary record, and had completed a chemical dependency program,” said the board’s chair, Lynne De Lano. “We make the best decision that we can with the information that we have available.”

Hitt was released on Jan. 10, 2012 and rearrested on Monday after Seattle police say he broke into a home near the UW campus and tied up six young women inside. He forced one of the students to remove her clothes at knifepoint.

“You can’t help but take it personally,” De Lano said. “We were traumatized, too, by the offense. You can’t help but put that on yourself, and those young women I’m so grateful that they are safe.”

In 2001, the state put certain sex offenders under the board’s jurisdiction. It is up to them to determine when the offender can be released after having served their minimum sentence. De Lano said of the roughly 400 sex offenders they have set free, only three have committed another sexual offense.

“With these types of offenders, we’ve been actually pretty successful,” she said. “A very, very small number have reoffended.”

De Lano said if the board determines there is sufficient evidence Hitt violated the conditions of his supervision, he could be sent back to prison.

Hitt faces charges of burglary, robbery, kidnapping, and attempted rape when he makes his initial appearance in court on Tuesday.