News

Parisi seeks prison releases

State Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, announced Thursday his intention to reduce Wisconsin's non-violent prisoner population through legislation that would allow the state's Department of Corrections to expand its Earned Release Program.

The ERP offers early discharge to prisoners who meet certain qualifications and submit to intensive corrective treatments. Eligible candidates must be "nonviolent offenders" with "drug or alcohol abuse problems," according to Parisi.

"If you were a sex offender … you would not be eligible," Parisi said. "We're dealing with the people who are most likely to succeed."

Parisi hopes his legislation will allow such people who are "likely to succeed" to do so by engaging them in curative, not punitive, programs aimed at attacking the root of the problem, rather than only reprimanding its results.

"We can either put [nonviolent offenders] in jail and let them become hardened criminals or we can get them the treatment they need," Parisi said, adding such an approach would ultimately create safer communities.

Some apprehensive lawmakers, however, are voicing objections to legislation promoting the early release of criminals.

"[Parisi's legislation] runs counter to the whole theory of punishing people for crimes," State Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said.

While Suder recognized the necessity of criminal therapy, recommending it be made mandatory for all offenders, he said he did not sanction it as an alternative for prison time.

"I support treatment programs, but to reward prisoners simply for participating in them makes absolutely no sense to me," Suder said.

Though opponents expressed skepticism of early release, Parisi remained steadfast and additionally pointed to the economic advantages of expanding the ERP, referring to both the immediate positive fiscal effects cited by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau and his own projected long-term benefits.

Parisi said not only would his legislation work to free up prison beds within the first six months of enactment, but it would also continue to save taxpayers money in the long run by making prisoners less likely to commit future crimes and consequently to re-enter the prison system. Also, rehabilitated offenders could obtain jobs and contribute to the tax base.

Conversely, Suder suggested the real issue at hand was not saving the most money but ensuring criminals know offenses, violent or nonviolent, will be treated seriously.

"Sure, if you let everyone out of prison, that would save a lot of money, but that doesn't provide the proper punishment," Suder said.

Originally included in the governor's 2005-07 biennial budget, expansion of the ERP was removed by the Republican-dominated Joint Finance Committee. Reinstatement of the provision was then presented to the Assembly by Parisi as an amendment, but was rejected in a party-line vote.

Parisi said he hopes the legislative route will fare better.

Suder, however, foresees a much different future for the legislation.

"Rep. Parisi's let-'em-loose-early legislation is dead on arrival," Suder said.

The legislation is currently in the process of gathering cosponsors. It is expected to be formally introduced within the next couple weeks.