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| Lawsuits in Arizona may lead to felons' release |
| By The Arizona Republic |
| Published: 03/05/2001 |
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State sentencing guidelines designed to keep dangerous felons behind bars in Arizona are coming under attacks that could trigger the release of scores of felons - just as they did four years ago. Twice in 1997, the state lost court cases that forced the early release of more than 150 inmates, including child molesters, rapists and drug dealers. More releases loom if the state loses two cases under appeal with the Arizona Supreme Court. The high court has scheduled a hearing March 20 on a state Court of Appeals ruling that certain sexual offenders should not have been sent to a special treatment program at the Arizona State Hospital after completing their prison sentences. It had ruled the sexually violent predator law that sent them there is unconstitutional. A second decision is pending on a lawsuit filed by a man convicted of attempted child molestation. If the state loses that case, hundreds of inmates convicted of dangerous crimes against children might be freed. That case involves the state Supreme Court's consideration of a lawsuit by Kenneth L. True, an inmate serving a 15-year term for attempted child molestation. If True wins, prison officials will be forced to immediately release 130 inmates convicted of dangerous crimes against children and 100 others could be released over the next six to nine months, said Donna Knudson, administrator for the Arizona Department of Corrections Offender Services Bureau. True sued for early release on the grounds that he is entitled to credits that make him eligible for parole. The DOC says True must serve his entire sentence, based on guidelines in place at the time of his 1985 conviction. 'The idea is you serve your punishment for 13, 14 or 15 years, during that time you qualify for treatment, take classes, understand why your behavior occurred and the state rewards you for that effort by releasing you earlier,' said Laura Udall, an attorney representing True. |
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