1 in 10 Prisoners Serving Life, But State Budget Woes May Bring Some Relief

Posted Jul 22, 2009 5:39 PM CST
By Martha Neil

More prisoners than ever before were serving life terms in 2008—a total of 140,610 out of 2.3 million inmates, or nearly 1 in 10, according to a report released today by the Sentencing Project, which advocates the elimination of life terms without the possibility of parole.

Two-thirds are Latino or black, and although most have been convicted of violent crimes, some were not, reports the New York Times.

State budget woes could help pressure for relief, however. California, which is struggling to close a massive budget deficit, has the nation's largest prison system and the highest number of inmates serving life—34,164. That number is three times as high as in 1992, the newspaper reports.

The state plans to release 27,000 inmates early, under a controversial plan to deal with a $26.3 billion deficit, reports the Los Angeles Times. It isn't clear exactly how the early-release plan would operate, although the newspaper says those who have made progress toward rehabilitation would be rewarded by having their sentences cut.

Comments

J.D.
Jul 22, 2009 7:55 PM CST

Bring some RELIEF? Not to anyone who is raped, mugged, molested, or killed as a result of this! This isn’t relief for any business owner who now has to deal with increased robberies and graffiti!

Liberals can’t balance a budget, so they’re going to fill our neighborhoods with criminals.

The insanity and incompetence which flows from democrats will kill us all.

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B. McLeod
Jul 22, 2009 9:53 PM CST

Sure, like that Manson guy, who actually never personally killed anyone. He’s practically got “early release” written on his face. Oh wait. . .

I guess that’s actually a swastika.

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James lambe
Jul 22, 2009 10:29 PM CST

I have a client who is serving a life sentence for unplugging the phone during an argument with his girlfriend and I have another client who is serving a life sentence for threatening to hit his girlfriend with a belt

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AndytheLawyer
Jul 23, 2009 11:19 AM CST

J.D.—How much do you want your taxes raised so that the states can afford to continue to keep them in for life?

Before answering, consider California, in which there are people in prison serving “LWOP” sentences for third strikes as trivial as stealing pizza.

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sumppump
Jul 23, 2009 2:34 PM CST

Madame Defarge would have had a quick and relatively painless answer for the majority of those who are overpopulating the D-Wing!
Bring me their heads!

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Tony Mann
Jul 23, 2009 6:14 PM CST

Do you really mean he’s serving life for unplugging a phone? I would really like to learn more about this, it’s not that a bout it but I would like to learn more.

Thanks

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J.D.
Jul 23, 2009 6:27 PM CST

Andy, you are a true liberal. Putting money above the value of human life and public safety. Sad.

There are millions of things California legislators can do to lower taxes. The state could save billions by discouraging—rather than encouraging—illegal immigration, for example.

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James Lambe
Jul 23, 2009 11:48 PM CST

My client and his girlfriend were arguing. The girlfriend’s son became frightened and dialed 911. My client snatched the phone from him, in an apparent attempt to disconnect the phone call.

Criminal Justice

1 in 10 Prisoners Serving Life, But State Budget Woes May Bring Some Relief

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Criminal Justice

1 in 10 Prisoners Serving Life, But State Budget Woes May Bring Some Relief

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