Early release-cost savings

[tempest]

I have never agreed with the longer prison terms because I think it solved nothing. Now the only good thing about the US Depression is the early release of prisoners to save money. It might be more dangerous but if the courts stopped sending more people to jail for minor things like drug addiction I think it might be the best solution--call me a liberal.


"Struggling States Eye Early Release for Prisoners" by Charles Montaldo
States short on cash due to current economic conditions are beginning to
look at reducing their prison and parole populations to save money by
making major policy changes. States are releasing some prisoners early,
removing thousands from the parole system and ignoring minor parole violations
in order to cut their budgets.

http://crime.about.com/b/2009/01/12/...-prisoners.htm

[Todash]

It depends. Hopefully they are differentiating between crimes that are directly harmful to others and crimes that are not.

[JayneH]

I dont believe in low risk criminals (parking violators etc) being housed with mainstream criminals (rapists murderers etc...) which is what is happening at the moment. Although drug addicts dont need to be in a max security - I do believe they should be punished for what is of course an illegal activity. Rehab only works if they are ready to give up the drugs so their isnt much else of an option other than min security prison.

[Tery]

As long as they are releasing low-risk people, I'm okay with it.

[JRLauer]

When one of those early released prisoners ends up killing someone, like a member of your family, then what will your opinion be?

[Todash]

When one of those early released prisoners ends up killing someone, like a member of your family, then what will your opinion be?

Likely if someone is in jail for writing a hot check (totally happens), skipping out on child support (again, very common), or growing weed in their basement, that person is probably not going to kill anyone.

My opinion, though: people who are in prison because they were driving under the influence are NOT low-risk.

[PatInTheHat]

Likely if someone is in jail for writing a hot check (totally happens), skipping out on child support (again, very common), or growing weed in their basement, that person is probably not going to kill anyone.

My opinion, though: people who are in prison because they were driving under the influence are NOT low-risk.

You know the funny thing is, many (many, by no means all) inmates doing time for murder they've found, are actually at minimal risk to ever do it again...they're not all "Bleah bleah bleah that's all folks" homicidal psycho's.
It's why so many convicted murderer's are also given higher status prison trustee positions...more trustable, go figure.
They also seem to make better mentors, to younger, more turn aroundable offenders, and are often used as inmate and inmate to staff mediators and run quite a few (of the very few there are) prison programs.