KEATING ASKS PAROLE BOARD TO CONSIDER EARLY RELEASES

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The early release of up to 1,000 nonviolent inmates from
state prisons should not pose a significant public safety risk, officials
said Tuesday. Gov. Frank Keating has asked the Pardon and Parole Board to
consider the early releases to help ease the budget crisis facing the state
Department of Corrections.

Under the plan, only inmates with less than five years to serve on their
sentences would be considered for commutation.

Terry Jenks, executive director of the parole agency, said the governor's
request would be considered either at a special meeting or at the board's
regularly scheduled meeting, Dec. 10-12 in Lexington.

Officials said there are no guarantees on inmates' conduct after they leave
prison, but pointed out that those to be considered for early release are
in prison on nonviolent crimes.

Jerry Massie, DOC spokesman, said the list of 1,000 inmates was developed
by paring "for one reason or another" a computer generated list of 3,000
inmates who appeared to meet Keating's criteria.

"I think the criteria is pretty stringent," Massie said. "It's stringent
enough that it probably reduces the risk to the public. According to the
criteria, they cannot have a history of violent crime."

In addition to being nonviolent, Keating said the board should not consider
inmates convicted of drug trafficking or those facing charges in other
jurisdictions....

Keating called the proposed commutations "regrettable" but necessary.

The DOC still has a $27 million shortfall to deal with, even after the
Legislature met in special session earlier this month to approve $9.8
million in emergency funding for the agency.

The action kept the agency from furloughing prison guards beginning in
December.

Dan Mahoney, Keating spokesman, said the governor is confident dangerous
inmates would not be released.

Oklahoma's prison incarceration rate is the fourth highest in the nation
behind Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.

Since Keating was elected in 1994, prison costs have climbed from $172
million to more than $407 million a year.

Last week, more than 23,000 were housed in state prisons or private
prisons, the highest number ever.

Keating opposed early release of inmates for most of his two terms in
office, but the parole board started considering commutations 14 months ago
for inmates who had less than six months to serve.