Funding shortfall may spark inmate early-release agenda
State budget cut program draws support, criticism

The exterior of the Snake River Correctional Institution as seen Tuesday afternoon. As the state budget continues to worsen, the Legislature is looking at possibly releasing some prisoners early to cut costs.

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Norris said releasing some inmates early can be viewed as flying a plane half full — it still costs money to fill the plane’s tank.

Cost cut impacts are obvious. For example, if the inmate population at Snake River Correctional Institute could be reduced to a certain point, that reduction would save the state about $200 million since a new 700-bed facility in Junction City would need to be built until after the 2009-2011 biennium ended.

Norris said while district attorneys are not endorsing the plans to release some inmates four to six months earlier than their sentences require, they also understand the financial pinch the state is in. However, he said district attorneys are not willing to budge on issues such as those imprisoned for Measure 11 offenses, which include first and second degree assaults, rapes and kidnappings.

However, he said discussions are possible with Measure 57 offenses, a mandate passed in November that imposes a minimum sentence for drug and property crimes.

Norris also said he believes it is important that state officials are honest with the public.

He expressed opposition to releasing inmates early and calling it a “transitional leave” rather than calling it what it is — an early release to save the state money.

He also said he did not support using current state statues, which allow inmates to reduce their time by 20 percent for good behavior, to release inmates that have not earned that “good time.” Norris said he did not support increasing the amount of “good time” that could be earned.

“Twenty percent is enough good time for someone to behave themselves,” he said.  He also said he believed budget issues should not be used to change current sentencing practices and an early release should be a “one-time thing.”

 He also said there are safety concerns for the victims of inmates who are released before their time.

Norris said the Legislature will have to come up with a solution before their session ends in June. However, he said the sessions have continued until August — even without such budget concerns.

“They have some tough choices to make,” he said.

Norris said district attorneys have been involved in the on-going conversation regarding prison cuts since before Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced his recommended budget. Oregon Department of Corrections Communications Manager Jeanine Hohn said the department has been asked to reduce its budget by 30 percent. However, she said it will be up to the legislature to set forth guidelines to detail which inmates would be eligible for early release and when. Hohn said the DOC proposed a number of prison closures and population reductions. As Norris commented, Hohn said she understood the current budget situation.

“The fact is that the state of Oregon is looking at a significant shortfall,” she said.

However, Norris said Oregon is not the only state looking to conserve funds in its prison system and some states are looking to abolish the death penalty in order to save on costs. Norris said paying for an inmate’s defense attorney as well as the costs of housing an inmate runs about $50,000 a year, with death penalty case costs running about $3 million.

According to the Associated Press, death penalty trials are more expensive because of extra lawyers, experience requirements for attorneys, lengthy appellate waits, increased security costs, and the costs for processing evidence. Some states such as Maryland, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, New Hampshire, Washington and Kansas have considered legislation to repeal the death penalty, according to the Associated Press.