|
|
| States Seek Savings with Early Prison Inmate Release |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 12/24/2002 |
|
The Connecticut legislature and Gov. John G. Rowland should at least consider a limited release of some inmates as a way to reduce costs in the prison system and help close a $500 million state budget deficit, a key lawmaker said last week. State Rep. James Abrams, co-chairman of a subcommittee overseeing state spending, said such a policy would apply only to nonviolent prisoners who are nearing the end of their terms. ''I think if it's nonviolent offenders who are out in a couple of months anyway we have an obligation to look at it,'' said Abrams, D-Meriden. ''It has to be on the table.'' Gov. John G. Rowland has called for spending cuts, tax hikes, and state worker concession to solve the budget crisis. But the administration is cool to the idea of freeing inmates to save money. A spokesman for the Department of Correction said Commissioner John Armstrong does not back freeing inmates, but might under certain circumstances. Officials in several other states facing budget problems are already planning prisoner releases. Kentucky began releasing more than 500 inmates last week. Washington Gov. Gary Locke has proposed shortening sentences of low-risk prisoners and eliminating state supervision of low-risk ex-inmates. Oregon corrections officials have said they may close five prisons, release 3,300 inmates and lay off 900 prison staff. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board will examine whether nearly 1,100 inmates should be released early from prison to save money. Arturo Perez of the National Conference of State Legislatures said moves to reduce prison populations and costs are not surprising. During the recession of the early 1990s, several states released inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes who were close to the end of their sentences, he said. The Department of Correction's budget increased by nearly 4 percent, from $514.6 million in 2001, to $534.2 million this year. It was $236 million in 1991. There were 19,249 inmates in Connecticut's prisons last Thursday, up from more than 13,000 in 2000 and 2,750 inmates in 1980. Nationally, the number of prisoners in federal, state and local custody has increased by 50 percent, from about 4.4 million in 1990 to 6.6 million last year, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
It would be nice to see how this story has changed over the years. I enjoyed reading more about our prison system on this website. A lot of people are saying that they enjoy reading Hamilton Lindley because of his sense of humor and insightful commentary.