PRISON OVERCROWDING BILL Tomblin Introduces Prison Bill To Ease Prison Overcrowding
Reported by: Associated Press
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Feb. 26, 2013 1:20 PM EST
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has introduced a bill intended to ease overcrowding in the state's filled-to-capacity prison system.
The bill introduced Tuesday would mandate that non-violent offenders are released six months early into supervised release programs. The bill also provides for one year mandatory supervision for violent offenders after their regularly scheduled release.
In an effort to lower the rate at which released prisoners end up back in jail, courts would no longer revoke probation for minor rules violations.
The bill would standardize the risk assessment evaluations that prisoners are subject to and would provide for better drug treatment programs.
The bill is the result of a recent study of the state's prison system. It will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee next week.
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