Tuesday, December 22, 2009

EARLY RELEASE FLOODGATES OPENING ACROSS THE LAND

As I’ve written before, early prison releases are not unique to California. Federal court orders to reduce prison overcrowding and state budged cuts are endangering public safety. If it hasn't already, will your state be the next one to open the flood gates to early releases?

MANY STATES CONSIDERING EARLY RELEASE
By Bob Walsh

PacoVilla’s Corrections blog
December 22, 2009

A significant number of jurisdictions within the good old U. S. of A are being forced to seriously consider early release of convicted criminals from prison.

Oregon had previously allowed 20% good time credit. They recently upped it to 30%.

Colorado is now allowing 12 days credit per month served, conditional on good conduct. The previous limit was 10.

Mississippi previously had limit of 180 days of good time credit any convict could accumulate. They have now abandoned that limit.

Kentucky is about to implement an early release program in order to save $21 million.

Various jurisdictions are looking at ways of saving money and still pretending to protect public safety. It will be interesting to see how well it works for them. I suspect we will be seeing how well it works for us soon enough.

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