One Spending Reduction
We've written a few times about the 2009 session being, on the whole, a failure.
Governor Beshear has been putting out press releases about what he considers the legislature's accomplishments, and we've apparently overlooked one significant cost savings: letting parole violators out of jail as soon as possible.
From his press release:
Additionally, Gov. Beshear signed into law House Bill 372, which credits time on parole toward completion of an offender's sentence, unless he or she had been returned to prison for the conviction of a new felony or had absconded while on parole. This measure codifies language in the current biennial budget.
This provision is being applied to inmates who have served time on parole and are back behind bars due to a technical violation, and offenders who are currently on parole. Inmates who are classified as violent offenders or who must register as a sex offender are ineligible.
The measure will save an estimated $15.4 million by the end of this fiscal year, and is expected to save more than $16 million in Fiscal Year 2010.
Parole is no longer a probationary period that is earned. Now it's the exact same as serving your sentence, just not in jail.
