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MA: Boston Globe Editorial: Better sense in sentencing

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Better sense in sentencing May 7, 2009 Boston Globe Editorial MANDATORY MINIMUM sentences for nonviolent drug crimes don't prompt offenders to clean up their acts. But they do pick the pockets of taxpayers, who cover the $47,000 annual cost of holding an inmate in state prison. Today, the Patrick administration is taking a sensible step to address this imbalance in the criminal justice system. Part of the governor's new crime prevention bill would allow parole for drug offenders after serving two-thirds of their mandatory minimum sentences. Parole eligibility would provide offenders with access to addiction treatment and work release programs, which are now foolishly barred to them. The offer of parole, however, would be decided case-by-case by the Parole Board...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on May 07, 2009 (boomark / email).