Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 Source: Leaf-Chronicle, The (US TN) Copyright: 2003, The Leaf-Chronicle Contact: http://www.theleafchronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1601 Author: Mardee Roberts SHERIFF: EARLY RELEASE OF PRISONERS WOULD DRAW PUBLIC OUTCRY Sheriff's officials hope Tennessee doesn't consider state budget-cutting measures that free felons early like Kentucky and Oklahoma have adopted. Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton released 567 nonviolent felons last month and another 316 last week. The projected savings is $6 million this fiscal year and $11 million in the next fiscal year. "If they're going to save money by doing that, what they're doing is putting the cost back on the public here in terms of more crimes being committed," Montgomery County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Ed Patterson said, explaining many felons are repeat criminal offenders. Adopting a similar early release philosophy in Tennessee would increase citizens' outrage in the justice system, Montgomery County Sheriff Norman Lewis predicted. "People will be shocked to learn how little time they (prisoners) serve already," Lewis said. "I don't see how lawmakers can talk about doing anything less." Most people don't understand how much time behind bars felons actually serve, Patterson said. For example, under the state's current sentencing guidelines, a person convicted of aggravated burglary could be sentenced by a judge to serve between eight to 12 years in the state penitentiary. However, state law requires the felon to serve only 30 percent of that time (2.4 to 3.6 years) before he or she is eligible for parole, Patterson said. "This isn't to say they are all paroled when they are first eligible," Patterson said. Also, the percentage could be more, depending on the convicted person's criminal record. Also, the state gives most felons good behavior credit, reducing by another 20 percent the time before they are eligible for a parole hearing. Despite Tennessee's budget woes, most of which stem from an additional $258 million required for TennCare, some state lawmakers were largely opposed to making early release of inmates a budget tool. Gov. Phil Bredesen is working with Correction Commissioner Quenton White "to see where department costs can be cut," Bredesen spokeswoman Lydia Lenker said. But, it is too early to say the new governor might advance a prisoner-release plan, Lenker said. "The governor just took office a few days ago. They don't have definitive answers for this stuff," she said. "We are in the preliminary stages of looking at the budgets of each department. Having said that, the safety and security of Tennesseans is at the top of his agenda, and he never wants to jeopardize the safety of Tennesseans." House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, D-Clarksville, said she as yet has seen no effort to change Tennessee's sentencing system. "I think there have always been efforts to look at nonviolent offenders and what sentencing methods can be established to deal with them," McMillan said. "That is why we have workhouses. That is why we have the ability for individuals who are considered low-level classifications to serve their time on weekends." McMillan said the Legislature should look at ways to steer more felons into community correction-type programs, which typically cost one-third the amount it takes to house someone in prison. Gannett News Service contributed to this report. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth