SOME FELONS WOULD AVOID TIME UNDER PROPOSAL

Desperate for ways to save money, state budget writers decided Tuesday to
back a plan that would eliminate prison sentences for some nonviolent
felony crimes.

Analyst Mark Valentine told the legislative budget committee the state
could save $29.8 million by eliminating prison sentences for nonviolent
Class 6 felonies (including gambling crimes, check fraud and failure to
register as a sex offender) and another $2.8 million by erasing mandatory
minimum sentences for some drug cases.

"I think it's worth a try," said Sen. Dave Owen, R-Greeley, the budget
committee chairman.

There were 2,467 Class 6 felony convictions in fiscal 2001-02 with 624 of
those winding up in prison with average sentences of 20.5 months. The rest
went to jail, probation or community corrections.

"Eliminating the mandatory minimums for drug cases, that is probably worth
discussing," conceded Rep. Brad Young, R-Lamar, budget committee vice chairman.