Amy
04-29-2004, 05:34 PM
Nonviolent prisoners could earn a day off their sentences for every day they work in trusty programs, under a bill signed by Gov. Haley Barbour.
The inmates had been allowed one day off for every three days worked. The change takes effect immediately.
Another bill Barbour signed Wednesday will allow release of terminally ill inmates who don't pose a threat to the community. The inmates with "no possibility of recovery'' could be at home but would be supervised by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Sex-crime offenders would not be allowed out under the new law, which takes effect July 1.
Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps said this week that the bills will help the Department of Corrections stay within its budget.
"Those types of legislation won't hurt public safety, but at the same time will get us within our budget and consistent with other states,'' he said.
Other bills signed by the governor would:
Prohibit medical workers or others from allowing a baby to die if the baby survives an abortion. Legislators have not said how often that has happened.
Waive a one-year state residency requirement to receive a permit to carry a concealed weapon if the person applying for the permit is in the active-duty military or a retired law enforcement officer or if the person has a valid concealed-weapons permit from another state.
Establish a state Holocaust Commission, with no funding. Barbour held a ceremonial signing of the bill on April 14 but did not sign a complete copy of the bill until Wednesday.
Allow the state auditor to set standards to ensure the accuracy of school districts' figures on average daily attendance.
Issue a certificate of need to let Mississippi State University acquire and operate a linear accelerator and magnetic resonance imaging unit.
Source: http://www.wlox.com/
The inmates had been allowed one day off for every three days worked. The change takes effect immediately.
Another bill Barbour signed Wednesday will allow release of terminally ill inmates who don't pose a threat to the community. The inmates with "no possibility of recovery'' could be at home but would be supervised by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Sex-crime offenders would not be allowed out under the new law, which takes effect July 1.
Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps said this week that the bills will help the Department of Corrections stay within its budget.
"Those types of legislation won't hurt public safety, but at the same time will get us within our budget and consistent with other states,'' he said.
Other bills signed by the governor would:
Prohibit medical workers or others from allowing a baby to die if the baby survives an abortion. Legislators have not said how often that has happened.
Waive a one-year state residency requirement to receive a permit to carry a concealed weapon if the person applying for the permit is in the active-duty military or a retired law enforcement officer or if the person has a valid concealed-weapons permit from another state.
Establish a state Holocaust Commission, with no funding. Barbour held a ceremonial signing of the bill on April 14 but did not sign a complete copy of the bill until Wednesday.
Allow the state auditor to set standards to ensure the accuracy of school districts' figures on average daily attendance.
Issue a certificate of need to let Mississippi State University acquire and operate a linear accelerator and magnetic resonance imaging unit.
Source: http://www.wlox.com/