---
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
FRIDAY, APRIL 4,2008
5A
LAWMAKING
Victim safety poses problem
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Budget cut proposal would release "well-behaved" prisoners early
POLICE Tori-Lyny Heaton is seen at her home in West Greenwich, R.L., Monday, Heaton, whose ex-husband previously spent time in prison for beating her but who would have been eligible for early release under Rhode Island's current proposal, opposes early release programs.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PROVIDENCE, R.I. Lawmakers from California to Kentucky are trying to save money with a drastic and potentially dangerous budget-cutting proposal: releasing tens of thousands of convicts from prison, including drug addicts, thieves and even violent criminals.
Officials acknowledge that the idea carries risks, but they say they have no choice because of huge budget gaps brought on by the slumping economy.
"If we don't find a way to better manage the population at the state prison, we will be forced to spend money to expand the state's prison system — money we don't have," said Jeff Neal, a spokesman for Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri.
At least eight states are considering freeing inmates or sending some convicts to rehabilitation programs instead of prison, according to an Associated Press analysis of legislative proposals. If adopted, the early release programs could save an estimated $450 million in California and Kentucky alone.
A Rhode Island proposal would allow inmates to deduct up to 12 days from their sentence for every month they follow rules and work in prison. Even some violent offenders would be eligible but not those serving life sentences.
A plan in Mississippi would offer early parole for people convicted of selling marijuana or prescription drugs. New Jersey, South Carolina and Vermont are considering funneling drug-addicted inmates into treatment, which is cheaper than prison.
The prospect of financial savings offers little comfort to Tori-Lynn Heaton, a police officer in a suburb of Providence whose ex-husband went to prison for beating her. He has already finished his prison term, but would have been eligible for early release
under the current proposal.
"You're talking about victim safety. You're talking about community member safety," she said.
But prisons "are one of the most expensive parts of the criminal-justice system," said Alison Lawrence, who studies corrections policy for the National Conference of State Legislatures. "That's where they look to first to cut down some of those costs."
In California, where lawmakers
have taken steps to cut a $16 billion budget deficit in halfby summer, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed saving $400 million by releasing more than 22,000 inmates who had less than 20 months remaining on their sen-
who could see 1,800 inmates released in his area.
In Kentucky, which faces a $1.3 billion deficit, lawmakers approved legislation Wednesday to grant early release to some prisoners. Initial estimates were that the plan could affect as many as 2,000 inmates and save nearly $50 million.
If the governor signs the bill, the exact number of prisoners would be determined by prison officials.
"You're talking about victim safety. You're talking about community member safety."
Violent convicts and sexual offenders would be exempt.
TORI-LYNN HEATON Providence suburb police officer
tences. Violent and sex offenders would not be eligible.
"To open the prison door and release prisoners back into communities is merely placing a state burden onto local governments and will ultimately jeopardize safety in communities," said Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer,
Gov.
Steve
Beshear
has said
Kentucky
must review
its policies
after the
state's inmate population jumped 12 percent last year — the largest increase in the nation.
Kentucky spends more than $18,600 to house one inmate for a year, or roughly $51 a day. In California, each inmate costs an average of $46,104 to incarcerate.
》 GAY RIGHTS
Clinton vows support for same-sex couples
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she would defend gay rights as president and eliminate disparities for same-sex couples in federal law, including immigration and tax policy.
Clinton said states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts are extending rights to gay couples "and the federal government should recognize that and should extend the same access to federal benefits across the board. I will very much work to achieve that."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
"I would be very distressed if Pennsylvania were to adopt that kind of mean-spirited referendum and I hope it won't happen," she said.
Clinton's comments came in an interview with the Philadelphia Gay News that was posted on its Web site Thursday.
Clinton said she and her husband have many gay friends that they socialize with when they get the chance. "I've got friends, literally, around the country that I'm close to. It's part of my life," she said.
She said that when they ask her why they can't get married, she tells them marriage is a state law. She said that fact helped defeat a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex weddings that she said would "enshrine discrimination in the Constitution."
"States are really beginning seriously to deal with the whole range of options, including marriage, both under their own state institutions and under the legislative approach," she said. "I anticipate that there will be a very concerted amount of effort in the next couple of years that will move this important issue forward and different states will take different approaches as they did with marriage over
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters during a news conference upon her arrival at the airport in Burbank, Calif., Thursday. Clinton said she and her husband have many gay friends that they socialize with when they get the chance.
Clinton's Democratic rival Barack Obama and Republican John McCain declined the newspaper's invitation for an interview. The paper criticized Obama and highlighted his refusal to talk by leaving a blank space on the front page where his interview would have appeared.
Clinton said she opposes a measure that would ban gay marriage in Pennsylvania.
many years and you will see an evolution over time."
BUSINESS (CONTINUED FROM IA)
Goods, 837 Massachusetts St., where Ryan Owens, store owner, said phones have been ringing off the hook with orders all week.
"We've been busy with not only customers, but also our Internet Web sites have been shipping KU apparel all over the country," he said. "T-shirts have been the most popular items."
Hy-Vee, 3504 Clinton Parkway, also decided to cash in on Jayhawk apparel. It now features a giant T-shirt stand at the front of the store.
He said the two T-shirts he has sold the most of have been KU regional locker room T-shirts and the Adidas Final Four celebration shirts the team wore right after its victory against Davidson.
John Olson, store manager, said selling T-shirts has become a common business trend around Lawrence this week.
"It seems like everyone who has the opportunity to get Final Four apparel is hopping on it," he said.
Oslon said Hy-Vee planned on seeing a huge spike in sales on Saturday.
"When KU went to the Orange Bowl, business skyrocketed quite a bit," he said. "We know people are having a lot of watch parties, so we plan on seeing a huge spike in snack food sales and other party supplies."
Owens said that while Saturday looked like a big day for business in Lawrence, he expected Sunday to be the biggest day of all for Jock's Nitch and other clothing stores.
"After we beat UNC – knock on wood – Sunday will be a lot crazier than Saturday," he said.
Edited by Patrick De Oliveira
Complete domestic and foreign car care
- Starters
Making sure you make it to the game since 1994
- Tune-ups
- Engine Repair
- C-V Joints
- Transmission
- Alignment
- Radiator
- Quick Lube
- Batteries
- A/C Service
- Electrical
- Exhaust
- Clutch
- Struts & Shocks
- Brakes
- Computer Diagnostics AND MORE!