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States consider releasing inmates early
Budget crunch may lead lawmakers to free prisoners early
Associated Press
Friday, April 4, 2008
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Lawmakers from California to Kentucky are trying to save
money with a drastic and potentially dangerous budget-cutting proposal:
releasing tens of thousands of convicts from prison, including drug addicts,
thieves and even violent criminals.
Officials acknowledge that the idea carries risks, but they say they have no
choice because of huge budget gaps brought on by the slumping economy.
"If we don't find a way to better manage the population at the state prison,
we will be forced to spend money to expand the state's prison system --
money we don't have," said Jeff Neal, a spokesman for Rhode Island Gov. Don
Carcieri.
At least eight states are considering freeing inmates or sending some
convicts to rehabilitation programs instead of prison, according to an
Associated Press analysis of legislative proposals. If adopted, the early
release programs could save an estimated $450 million in California and
Kentucky alone.
A Rhode Island proposal would allow inmates to deduct up to 12 days from
their sentence for every month they follow rules and work in prison. Even
some violent offenders would be eligible, but not those serving life
sentences.
A plan in Mississippi would offer early parole for people convicted of
selling marijuana or prescription drugs. New Jersey, South Carolina and
Vermont are considering funneling drug-addicted offenders into treatment,
which is cheaper than prison.
The prospect of financial savings offers little comfort to Tori-Lynn Heaton,
a police officer in a suburb of Providence whose ex-husband went to prison
for beating her. He has already finished his prison term, but would have
been eligible for early release under the current proposal.
"You're talking about victim safety. You're talking about community member
safety," she said. "You can't balance the budget on the backs of victims of
crimes."
But prisons "are one of the most expensive parts of the criminal-justice
system," said Alison Lawrence, who studies corrections policy for the
National Conference of State Legislatures. "That's where they look to first
to cut down some of those costs."
Rhode Island Corrections Director A.T. Wall was not sure how many prisoners
could be freed early. The payoff for doing so may be relatively small: less
than $1 million for the first fiscal year, although that figure would
increase over time.
In California, where lawmakers have taken steps to cut a $16 billion budget
deficit in half by summer, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed saving $400
million by releasing more than 22,000 inmates who had less than 20 months
remaining on their sentences. Violent and sex offenders would not be
eligible.
Laying off prison guards and making it more difficult to send parole
violators back to state prison would account for part of the savings.
Law enforcement officials and Republican lawmakers immediately criticized
Schwarzenegger's proposal, which would apply to car thieves, forgers,
drunken drivers and some drug dealers. Some would never serve prison time
because the standard sentence for those crimes is 20 months or less.
"To open the prison door and release prisoners back into communities is
merely placing a state burden onto local governments and will ultimately
jeopardize safety in communities," said Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, who
could see 1,800 inmates released in his area.
In Kentucky, which faces a $1.3 billion deficit, lawmakers approved
legislation Wednesday to grant early release to some prisoners. Initial
estimates were that the plan could affect as many as 2,000 inmates and save
nearly $50 million.
If the governor signs the bill, the exact number of prisoners would be
determined by prison officials. Violent convicts and sexual offenders would
be exempt.
Gov. Steve Beshear has said Kentucky must review its policies after the
state's inmate population jumped 12 percent last year - the largest increase
in the nation.
Kentucky spends more than $18,600 to house one inmate for a year, or roughly
$51 a day. In California, each inmate costs an average of $46,104 to
incarcerate.
The prison budget in Mississippi has nearly tripled since stricter
sentencing laws took effect in 1994.
To curb spending, lawmakers have offered a bill to make about 7,000 drug
offenders in prison eligible for parole. A second proposal would allow the
parole board to release inmates convicted of selling marijuana and
prescription drugs after serving just a quarter of their sentences.
Currently, they must serve 85 percent of their terms before release.
Michigan is trying to speed up the parole process for about 3,500 inmates
who were convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual offenses, or who are seriously
ill.
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