EARLY-RELEASE CAN HELP INMATES AND STATE

I'm in favor of the Department of Corrections releasing nonviolent
inmates early if it will help save money. Likewise, counties might
also be able to trim from their budgets the costs of housing inmates
awaiting trial.

State law (Section 17-23-90) allows for inmates awaiting trials in
county jails to petition for their release if not indicted and brought
to trial within two terms of court following their arrest. This means
most inmates awaiting trial could petition for their release after
just a few months in jail. Seeing how there are many pre-trial
detainees who languish in jail for a year or more waiting to go to
trial, it seems obvious that counties could save money if more
pre-trial detainees knew about this statute.

Perhaps it's time to pass a law mandating that magistrates and Circuit
Court judges inform defendants at their bail hearings of their right
to petition for their release under this statute.

PAUL SEAY

Irmo