“Life Sentence” doesn’t mean life sentence anymore. October 26, 2009
According to an article by the Winston-Salem Journal & other sources, the State of North Carolina will be releasing 20 inmates that were originally sentenced to “Life in Prison” maybe released as early as October 29, 2009. Time off for good behavior. The North Carolina Supreme Court has affirmed a Court of Appeals ruling setting the inmates free. The 1974-to-1981 legal changes set a life sentence at 80 years and later cut it in half by allowing inmates to earn time off for good behavior. An “80 Years sentence” was reduced down to 40 years. And then time-off for good behavior was another reduction. The North Carolina Governor has ordered the No Carolina Department of Corrections not to release anyone yet but this appears it will be heading for the court system again. North Carolina The Fair Sentencing Act of 1981 targeted all three issues but failed regarding inmate population. Inmate numbers grew into a crisis in the mid-1980s that led to a prison-building boom, a prison cap and new laws.
The State of Illinois will be reviewing the early release of 1000 prisoners. With the potential to save $5,000,000 the state must review its options. The IL. Prison Guards Association believes this would be a mistake because the support services after the prisoners are release has been cut back as well.
The State of Colorado inadvertently released a Sex Offender from prison under a new Colorado state effort to reduce funds from the prison system. Gov. Bill Ritter, a former Denver district attorney, has said that no sex offenders, kidnappers or killers would be released under the program, which officials hope will save $19 million as the state deals with a $318 million budget shortfall this year. But the first round of prisoners released Sept. 22-23 included a man, 51-year-old Benn Joe Rael, who was convicted in a child sex-assault case in 1982 but was serving time for nonviolent theft, The Denver Post reported.
We recommend the continued use of background checks and not a reduction of funds in this area.
Carl Slicer, blog editor, www.BestHire.com
