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WA: Closing prisons, slashing sentences eyed to balance budget

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Closing prisons, slashing sentences eyed to balance budget By Jennifer Sullivan Seattle Times staff reporter April 9, 2009 OLYMPIA ? Tough-on-crime legislation that has long filled courtrooms, prisons and parole offices across the country has apparently met its match ? the economy. In Washington and other states, lawmakers are considering budget cuts that would close prisons, loosen sentencing guidelines and slash probation terms. With lawmakers in Olympia looking for nearly $4 billion in spending cuts, several high-ranking Democrats say the recession gives them an opportunity to add compassion to a criminal-justice system they believe has grown too large, too expensive and too harsh for some of the crimes. "We need a massive re-look at what we're doing and what the focus is," said Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Margarita Prentice, D-Renton...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on April 10, 2009 (boomark / email).