In an interview with the Capital Times editorial board on May 26, Department of Corrections Secretary Rick Raemisch said he plans to shift the Department’s early release programs into high gear. Speaking about the early release programs implemented by Act 28, Raemisch noted, “I want a program so successful and so powerful that no one would dare eliminate it. That’s why I feel like the demons are chasing me right now.”
Most of the early release programs implemented by Wisconsin Act 28 allow inmates currently serving prison time under Wisconsin’s Truth In Sentencing laws to earn time off their prison sentences for good behavior, but one program that wasn’t as highly publicized was the early release program known as Certain Early Release (CER). Under the CER program, inmates who are deemed eligible for the programs are evaluated by institution social workers and probation and parole agents to determine whether they should be release early, but what’s worth noting about CER is the fact that even inmates who have exhibited bad behavior while incarcerated are eligible for CER. What’s more, those inmates who have behaved badly while incarcerated could also have a conviction for a violent felony.
While many of the sentencing reforms brought about as a result of Act 28 were justified by lawmakers as a great cost saving measure that wouldn’t endanger public safety, the reality is the substantial cost savings touted by lawmakers would only be realized if nearly every inmate that was eligible for early release was actually released early. As it stands, I simply can’t see anyone justifying early release for the many violent felons with institution behavior problems are eligible for these early release programs, especially give the Department of Corrections’ stated mission of doing its part to keep the public safe.
Realizing the early release programs faces stiff opposition from Republican lawmakers, as well as a lack of support from the two Republican gubernatorial candidates and the top Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Raemisch added, “My concern is that there are those out there trying to sink this ship before it even gets a chance to float.” While I generally support the notion that some inmates should be able to earn time off their prison sentences for good behavior and the successful completion of programs such as anger management, domestic violence counseling, AODA treatment, etc., I simply fail to see the logic in making violent felons who can’t behave themselves while incarcerated eligible for any type of early release.
Ultimately, while Rick Raemisch is concerned about his legacy, he should be more concerned about how the early release programs that are currently in place can be fine-tuned to ensure no violent felons with poor institution behavior records are even eligible for early release, because bad behavior shouldn’t be rewarded.
The irony here being, if he’s truly concerned about his legacy, her certainly seems to be trying to torpedo it. Given that it actually takes an awful lot to actually get put away for a decent chunk of time these days – most are either violent or chronic repeat offenders, and that he wants to ramp up early releases as quickly as possible…and setting aside the merits of the idea, given the discretion used for the first candidates, it’s really hard to believe there aren’t going to be some really bad results. And Raemisch’s legacy is going to be as the guy who let X out early to go and murder someone.
I don’t support releasing violent people early, and when it comes to murder I don’t ever support letting them out. I actually supported the death penalty in a high school assignment when they gave us a bunch of information about statistics of people being released. It turned out it cost more to kill people but people were released so often that a disturbing number of people murdered again when let out.
I have changed my views since then and I firmly oppose the death penalty, but it has not changed the reasoning of why I supported it in high school: that murderers should not be released, and by extension violent people should not be given a soft sentence.
I don’t drink or smoke or do any drugs, but I support legalizing marijuana. It’s factually less dangerous than alcohol and it’s illogical to keep it illegal, as well waste of money to jail its users. Give the drug cartels a blow and stop clogging the system with marijuana users who haven’t caused harm to anyone. If this early release thing affects non-violent drug users I absolutely support it. I don’t support legalization of the more dangerous drugs though, and I’ll reiterate that violent people should not get early release no matter how well they act in prison.