November 20, 2005

Seven years ago, then-Gov. Phil Batt tried to ease Idaho prison overcrowding by pushing a package of laws designed to ease the flow of minor offenders into the state system.

The four bills approved by the Legislature gave the Commission for Pardons and Parole more flexibility to grant parole; changed the definition and amount of money necessary for someone to be charged with grand theft; increased the dollar amount to bring felony charges for writing bad checks; and dropped felony penalties for individuals caught a third time for driving without privileges. By being hard-nosed about nonviolent offenders, Batt realized, Idaho might be safer to some extent. But the state would continue to embrace the necessity to construct additional prisons to meet the demand.


Complete Story
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/opinion/story.asp?ID=102363

The four bills approved by the Legislature gave the Commission for Pardons and Parole more flexibility to grant parole

The flexibility and power that was given the the parole commission is great if they would have used it the way it was intended. The system has a lot of inmates who are past parole eligibility and still sitting in prison.

I like the fact that Montana is trying everything they can to keep from sending inmates out of state. More states need to try this too. There are options.....the out of state transfer shouldn't be one of them. What this does to families has no dollar amount.
Very good article Tanya. Am I off topic again? LOL