Inmates Released Early Due to Budget Deficit
From Times Wire Reports
Jail and prison doors swung open for the first of hundreds of felons ordered freed by Gov. Paul Patton because of a budget crunch.
Patton’s “conditional commutation” covered 567 prisoners, all described as nonviolent offenders who, on average, were within 80 days of completing their sentences. Of that group, 363 were scheduled for release on Wednesday, and the rest on Friday.
Patton’s order was part of a plan to avert a $6-million deficit in the corrections budget.
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