Prison Reform Advocates Say State Could Save By Releasing Parole-Eligible Inmates

While corrections officials predict an increase in prisoners over the next two years will cost the state just under $5 million, prison reform advocates say that money could be saved by releasing inmates eligible for parole.

The state Legislature’s budget committee approved spending $5 million to house 500 new prisoners earlier this week. Prison officials say inmate numbers are rising thanks to longer sentences and an increase in drunken driving convictions.

But David Liners of the prison reform group WISDOM said there’s a cheaper way to make room for the increase.

“There are hundreds if not thousands of parole eligible inmates who are no danger to the state who could be released any day now and save millions of dollars. We could reduce the prison population in very short order,” said Liners.

The budget committee this week rejected a proposal from Sen. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, that would have required the DOC to provide a list of nonviolent offenders eligible for parole and an estimate of the cost savings to the state if they were released.