Ky. AG Seeks To Block Inmate Early Release Program

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Posted: 11:48 AM Oct 1, 2008
Last Updated: 6:18 PM Oct 1, 2008

19 comments

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's attorney general has sued the state seeking to block the General Assembly's cost-saving plan to release some inmates and parolees early.

Attorney General Jack Conway has asked the Franklin County court for an injunction that would stop the Department of Corrections from continuing with the plan.

A similar injunction is already in place in Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle counties.

State prison officials have been giving inmates more credit than normal for time served on parole. The extra credit has gone toward fulfilling inmates' minimum sentences.

About 1,000 of Kentucky's 21,000 prison inmates have been released and about 1,500 parolees have been dropped from supervision under the plan.

A spokeswoman for the Kentucky Justice Cabinet did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

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Posted by: jeff Location: kentucky on Oct 7, 2008 at 08:46 AM
these are not 1st time offenders all of these inmates have been in and out of jail. Most felony offenders are given probation on 1st offense. These people have been given a chance. Now lets give the victims a chance.And the paroles that are placed back in the system for violating the rules of parole and then are given credit just like they haven't done anything wrong---THIS ISNT FAIR TO THE CITIZENS OF KENTUCKY. GO CONWAY!!!!

Posted by: Mike Location: Harlan on Oct 4, 2008 at 04:28 PM
Thank you for letting "Ditters" out...He didn't last a month before he was arrested AGAIN. He should have NEVER been released to plague our town again...and again...and again. 10 yrs should mean 10 yrs.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 4, 2008 at 03:52 PM
I dont think most of you understand that individuals who commit crimes, cost you more in taxes than when they are incarcerated. Think about the man hours that goes into investigating a crime, then the hours that goes into prosecuting a crime, more than likely you are paying for their defense attorney, then if convicted they go jail. Now think about the cost the victims have to pay financially and emotionally in many crimes whether it be lost wages or replacing damaged property. Now you can avoid paying these costs by keeping them incarcerated. It is a proven statistic that criminals who are free and commiting new crimes cost tax payers more money than if they were already locked up.

Posted by: Rick on Oct 4, 2008 at 03:46 PM
To Bill, This liberal garbage that you are preaching is the problem not the solution. You must either be on dope yourself or you are one of the most uninformed people to ever post a comment. You call police officers terrorist but refer to criminals almost as misguided souls. To me you are the terrorist and a communist. I will see what you have to say when your home is broken into like mine was. I say that if you are convicted of three felonies, it's life in prison without parole.

Posted by: Bart Location: Harrodsburg on Oct 4, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Bad idea, Fed Up. We already have enough rapists, thieves and murderers fighting under the United States flag in Iraq as it is. We don't need any more.

Posted by: Fed Up Location: Kentucky on Oct 3, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Hey, why don't we just let them all out and send them to Iraq and bring our men and women home that would like to be home with their families?

Posted by: Bill on Oct 3, 2008 at 08:31 AM
We are locking up too many people.Most for difference in opinion,rather then laws broken.not everyone is alike or see's things the same way.Drug laws are over the top,and causeing a lack of confidence in law enforcement.We have allowed people to be locked up for near nothing, for long terms.Its making Kentucky a police state.All for a drug war, that isn't working.The police are now seen as terrorest.

Posted by: Steve Location: Lexington on Oct 2, 2008 at 10:19 PM
To those who think that the AG should win this and put people back in jail...I hope you're ready to pay more taxes to feed, house, shelter, etc these prisoners. We have more people in jail in our nation than any country in the world, and it's because we're putting people in jail for long sentences on nuisance crimes. I, for one, am NOT prepared to pay anymore taxes for prisons in our state, they get plenty of money and if the courts would quit "throwing the book" at a jaywalker or someone who got caught smoking a joint, then we wouldn't have this money and overcrowding problem. So, for those of you who are so in favor of keeping people in jail for petty crimes for long sentences, I suggest you make a couple thousand dollar donation yearly to the Justice Cabinet to pay for their upkeep!

Posted by: Clay2 Location: Mt. sterling on Oct 2, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Where has Conway been? maybe on a convict furlough. They knew better when they past the trash legislation

Posted by: Early Release already arrested Location: Harlan, KY on Oct 2, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you. It wasn't even a month that one inmate was release in our county on numberous Burglary and Arson charges until he broke into a local pawn shop and stoled 7 guns and is back in custody. Thank you Mr. Conway for filing this suit and trying to stop criminals like this from committing more crimes as soon as they are released. Best of luck to you.

Posted by: Darlene Location: Ky on Oct 2, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Jack is right it is better to keep them in prison for their whole sentence then let them out and a month or two later ninety five percent would need to go through the process of being put back in jail for a crime worst then they was in for the first time!! keep them in there!!!!

Posted by: Note to cathy in london on Oct 2, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Apparently you must have some friends or relatives in jail who are "innocent." Yea right; keep them locked up where they belong. If they are in jail, they are THUGS! ENOUGH SAID!

Posted by: Eddie on Oct 2, 2008 at 06:33 AM
Good Luck to Jack and thanks for steping up to bat. It has already been proven letting these people out early is the wrong decision as a lot of them are already back in after commiting additional crimes. Please stop this nonsense of letting these people go. They need to take a serious look at the death penalty in other areas and put it in place and carry it out. That will reduce the number of inmates for sure.

Posted by: cathy Location: london on Oct 1, 2008 at 11:53 PM
i just want to say just because these people are in jail does not mean they are thugs they should be given time off for good behavior and let out our state really cant afford all these inmates right now or maybe they should put them on house arrest and put a monitoring bracelet on them

Posted by: Morehead on Oct 1, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Thanks Jack Conway! Jails & prisons should go back to chain gangs & maybe criminals would think twice before they committed another crime. Where is punishment, when on a 7 year sentence, they only serve 15 months & now the General Assembly says "let them out in 4 months"?

Posted by: DF Location: Burnside on Oct 1, 2008 at 08:49 PM
You let them out early, you're crazy. Do the crime, serve the time. Why put citizens at risk. Sometimes they don't get the sentence that they deserved anyway, now you want to let them out early to SAVE money? Get real.

Posted by: Steve Location: KY. on Oct 1, 2008 at 07:31 PM
Thanks Jack!!! Good luck!!!

Posted by: Bruce Location: Gotham City on Oct 1, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Hey, is that Harvey Dent??

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Thank you Jack Conway. We don't need criminals released before their sentence is up. If they release anyone it should be light offenders and only with very good behavior.

Posted by: Kevin Location: Kentucky on Oct 1, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Even though it is good that a legislative body can agree on a bailout, I wish Mr. Conway the best of luck. Government needs to learn to live within its means and in the mean time deal with its current financial state without letting these thugs out on the streets.

Posted by: Allen Location: KY on Oct 1, 2008 at 02:08 PM
If Jack Conway gets this accomplished, he is definitely Kentucky's MAN OF THE YEAR! Hats off to you Jack from this conservative!

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