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| Iowa Panel Suggests Shortening Mandatory Prison Sentences |
| By Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier |
| Published: 12/20/2002 |
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Felons required under Iowa law to serve 85 percent of their sentences would have a chance for earlier parole or release to community corrections under a recommendation approved Monday by the state budget-cutting panel. The Program Elimination Commission, an eight-member panel created by the Legislature to recommend budget cuts for next year, voted unanimously to recommend that the Legislature change sentencing laws. The panel proposed that the Parole Board be allowed to review and make recommendations regarding work release or parole after a prisoner has served 50 percent of his sentence instead of the current 85 percent. The panel also recommended that prisoners now serving sentences under the 85 percent provision not be released early but could be eligible after serving 65 percent of their sentence to finish their time in community-based corrections facilities. The commission's recommendations must be approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor in order to take effect. Corrections officials have identified the 85 percent sentencing law as a factor contributing to prison overcrowding. County attorneys and the Attorney General's Office have expressed concerns about the legislation, however. Doug Marek of the Attorney General's Office said the office warned lawmakers against undermining the idea that drug offenders should serve longer sentences for repeating their crimes, for example. He also cautioned against reopening sentences for prisoners currently serving under the 85 percent rule. 'Ironically, the 85 percent law was part of the truth in sentencing movement,' he said. 'If you change it after the 85 percent is imposed, people will say, 'Where's the truth in sentencing?' ' The commission will schedule a meeting to finalize its recommendations by the end of the month. |
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