Inmates spending weekends at home (lawyers, law, office)

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Originally Posted by Vangogh121

The article is quite vague, I wish there was more detail about the inmates in question, their specific crimes and how far they are in to their rehabilitation. I agree that this would be a great program to transition back into society. My only concern would be for individuals that might not be rehabilitated. On the good note, there is not reports of crimes from these individuals and none have jumped ship. Hopefully this article will force a stronger look at the program and ensure we are doing the right thing for the inmates and the community they will be reintroduced into.

According to the article, these are all low risk individuals who have behaved themselves in prison.

Can't help but wonder how playing golf, rallying support for a parole, hanging out with their old chums... improves their shot at a successful transition back into the community. Couldn't they do this just as easily once they're released?

[playnice]

Lawmaker, DAs call on governor to end home release for prisoners :: WRAL.com

[Vangogh121]

“For over three decades, the home leave program has allowed for inmates who are nearing release to re-establish family relationships and community socialization in preparation for their transition back into the community," said Commissioner of Adult Correction David Guice. "Every inmate is carefully screened and selected and undergoes a thorough investigation before admission into the program.”

Doesn't seem like a big deal to me, and sounds like the plan has been successful.

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Originally Posted by playnice

It is confusing that someone with a life sentence is eligible for weekend/work release over say most any other inmate.

Confusing to me to.

One inmate shot a police officer in the back of the head and is serving a life sentence. There is no mention that she is soon to be paroled, yet she gets weekends off.

At her last parole hearing, she stated she is a changed person. And she may well be.

But in my mind, killing a police officer in cold blood deserves a life sentence without parole and without weekends off.

Drug dealers, habitual felons, you name it... I can see where reintegrating them into community before their release date makes sense.

But if there is no scheduled release date in the near future, why the weekend passes?

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Originally Posted by Vangogh121

“For over three decades, the home leave program has allowed for inmates who are nearing release to re-establish family relationships and community socialization in preparation for their transition back into the community," said Commissioner of Adult Correction David Guice. "Every inmate is carefully screened and selected and undergoes a thorough investigation before admission into the program.”

Doesn't seem like a big deal to me, and sounds like the plan has been successful.

Is there evidence, not merely opinions, that this program has been successful?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by GotHereQuickAsICould

Is there evidence, not merely opinions, that this program has been successful?

How would you define "successful"?
The recidivism rate of this select group vs the general population released else wise?

I think the whole point is that
a) these people WILL be getting out before too long no matter what ...and
b) *anything* that they might do when out that isn't criminal is plain and simple good enough ...and
c) the alternative is either building more prison capacity or not sentencing/prosecuting
many of the OTHER's in the system so that space is then available for the more serious offenses.

I wouldn't object to this last in the least and I'd scream bloody murder at any plan
to spend more scarce funds to build and staff more prisons. Where does that leave us?

[sowk09]

Originally Posted by GotHereQuickAsICould

But one guy has been home weekends for two years, apparently working on getting support for a parole hearing. Others are serving life sentences for murder. It is unclear just how close any of them are to a release date.

Are they saving money by not having to feed them on weekends? Are there other savings I haven't thought about?

Shouldn't their victims be notified they're out and about?

Yeah, by not feeding them, but probably mostly by having less staff on the weekends. I would imagine that is a huge savings. Then maybe a small savings by not having lights/tv/water going in their cell (possibly, guess it depends if their cellmate is there). But I bet it saves a LOT of money.

As far as victims being notified, do they do that anyway? I mean I deal with the prison system often for work, and the dates I see online for release are rarely the dates that the people I'm dealing with come out. Often times the prison will put the person out on the street with me thinking there is still another week to secure housing, etc and I only know bc the person calls me wondering where to sleep that night. All that's to say, I don't think victims are being notified anyway, so not sure why they'd do it for this program. If I were the victim, yeah I'd want to be notified! But I don't think that's a service the prison system offers, in my experience.

[goodbyesnow]

Originally Posted by sowk09

As far as victims being notified, do they do that anyway? I mean I deal with the prison system often for work, and the dates I see online for release are rarely the dates that the people I'm dealing with come out. Often times the prison will put the person out on the street with me thinking there is still another week to secure housing, etc and I only know bc the person calls me wondering where to sleep that night. All that's to say, I don't think victims are being notified anyway, so not sure why they'd do it for this program. If I were the victim, yeah I'd want to be notified! But I don't think that's a service the prison system offers, in my experience.

In our home state, my DH was notified each time his mom's murderers were up for parole and then when one was released we knew the release date.

I'd be surprised if that wasn't the case everywhere. I'd hate to run into someone I thought was still locked up for committing a crime on a family member or myself.

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Originally Posted by MrRational

I think the whole point is that
a) these people WILL be getting out before too long no matter what ...and
b) *anything* that they might do when out that isn't criminal is plain and simple good enough ...and
c) the alternative is either building more prison capacity or not sentencing/prosecuting
many of the OTHER's in the system so that space is then available for the more serious offenses.

a) Though prison authorities state this program is for soon-to-be-released prisoners, apparently this is not actually what happens. Several were serving life sentences. One has been on weekend passes for two years rallying support for a parole.

b) If anything they do is fine and good, why not just let all prisoners out every weekend? Why should prison interfere with golf games and hanging out with one's buddies?

c) I agree. We need to separate who we are afraid of from who we are mad at. Imprison those we are afraid of and come up with other ways to deal with the rest.

I am afraid of murderers, of people who shoot police officers in the back of the head. I want them imprisoned for the entire length of their sentence. I want family members notified when they are on the street.

[GotHereQuickAsICould]

Originally Posted by goodbyesnow

In our home state, my DH was notified each time his mom's murderers were up for parole and then when one was released we knew the release date.

I'd be surprised if that wasn't the case everywhere. I'd hate to run into someone I thought was still locked up for committing a crime on a family member or myself.

I thought that was the policy everywhere.

Surprised to read that things are so lax in NC.