Why not relieve prison overcrowding during this crisis by furloughing prisoners with the understanding they would need to return later to finish their period of incarceration?
Convicted criminals often go through a lengthy period anyway before they are actually incarcerated, so this would not be all that different.
And they are still paying the penalty exacted by society, just delayed.
And lives would be saved.
Has this been proposed already?
Friday, Mar 27, 2020 · 9:27:45 PM +00:00
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JMcDonald
Update: To clarify, my suggestion was geared towards offenders unlikely to present an imminent physical threat to others. Violent offenders and those likely to flee or go underground would presumably not be eligible. Perhaps use standards similar to those for bail hearings.