Early Release Time Out Awaits Governor's Signature

By Chris Lehman | Feb. 16, 2010 4:31 p.m. | Updated: June 16, 2010 11:56 p.m. | Salem, OR

A plan to suspend an early release program for some Oregon criminals is on its way to the governor's desk. The Oregon House Tuesday signed off on the measure after the Senate approved it last week. Majority Democrats pushed the bill as a way to correct mistakes they said were made in a measure last year. That bill made thousands of criminals eligible to get out of prison early in a cost-cutting move. The new measure would put the early release program on hold for 16 months while the state studies its effectiveness. Democratic Representative Peter Buckley says when the program resumes, fewer criminals will be eligible:Peter Buckley: “It's the responsible thing for us to do, is to fix that, and make sure that we do not continue down that road where people who should never be considered, never be considered, for additional earned time were clogging our court system, causing stress for victims, etcetera.” Under the plan, the early release program would continue from 2011 until 2013. Republicans said the legislature should have repealed it altogether. Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski is expected to sign the measure.

© 2010 Northwest News Network

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