Utah is considering what is being termed an ‘unprecedented emergency release' that could set up to 200 inmates free - up to eight months before their sentences are complete. Officials hope to avoid an emergency release, but cite overcrowding and a lack of prison beds.

The emergency release can only be ordered by the governor, and officers say that they are doing everything they can to avoid it. However, they also note that if conditions don't change, an early release will be necessary to cut the budget. The state says it will focus on ‘offenders with property crime and drug convictions who already had an upcoming parole date'.

But Utah has already been working its way through 900 potential early-release candidates in what some are calling an ‘ongoing early release system', which started in 2001. Officials are concerned that crime would increase in Utah neighborhoods if all of the prisoners were released at once; especially because once an emergency release is approved, the Board of Pardons would make a list of all inmates. The list would be sorted by parole date, including the most violent offenders to white-collar criminals - and then, starting at the top of the list, prison officials would begin to free inmates.