Wednesday, March 12, 1997

The Nation In Brief
Felons freed due to ruling of high court

Tallahassee, Fla.
The first 300 of as many as 2,500 murderers, rapists, robbers and other
Florida felons walked free because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision, and
officials began warning their victims.
"You're talking about a group that is pretty tough, in terms of their
offenses," Department of Corrections deputy secretary Bill Thurber said
yesterday.
Like other released prisoners, the 300 freed yesterday were handed
$100. and turned over to relatives or given a bus ticket to the Florida
destination of their choice.
As many as 500 could get out this week and up to 2,500 over the next
few months because of the high court's ruling last month that restored
time off that the state granted to relieve prison overcrowding but later
took away.