MORE FELONS COULD BE RELEASED SOON

John Matson, interim press secretary for Gov. Bob
Riley, said more convicted felons similar to Joseph Cammon could be
released onto the streets of Alabama.

Cammon was paroled less that a week ago by the Alabama Department of
Pardons and Parole after serving four years of a four-consecutive life
term sentence for drug distribution. Assistant Executive Director of
that board Cynthia Dillard said Cammon met parole standards.

Local law enforcement agencies, including the Chilton County Sheriff's
Department and District Attorney Randall balked at the release, saying
the efforts of both departments had been wasted.

Matson said Wednesday Gov. Riley has no control over which convicts
the parole board chooses to set free. However, he did say the governor
has requested no violent offenders would be released.

"Given the state of the corrections department in Alabama, no money
for new officers and no money for new prisons, the state has to
respond to federal and state court orders dealing with inmate
overcrowding," he said. "That means it is possible more convicted
felons, those having not committed violent crimes, will be released
back onto the streets of Alabama."

Matson said that is something the governor never wanted to see happen,
but given the state of the state following the failure of the
governor's tax and accountability package, belt-tightening has to
occur somewhere.

Matson said the governor has no say in who is or is not paroled other
than his request violent offenders not be released. The governor also
has the power to write a letter requesting individuals not be released
into the population, as he has the privilege to write a similar letter
requesting someone receive parole. To Matson's knowledge, Riley has
never written a letter requesting anyone's parole.

When questioned whether the move was in retaliation of the state
voting down Riley's tax plan on Sept. 9, Matson said it would be very
unlikely.

"I don't believe the board would do that," he said. "This is part of
the cuts having to be made in order to keep the state going during a
time of financial trouble. It's unfortunate, but there's not much choice.

The state could release as many as 5,000 convicted felons onto the
streets in order to decrease its inmate population to just more than
22,000 persons - the maximum total the state's prison system is
designed to house.