GOVERNOR REQUESTS INMATES' EARLY RELEASE

More than 1,000 Oklahoma inmates could be released from prison early based
on a request from Gov. Frank Keating. Keating sent a letter to members of
the state Pardon and Parole Board asking them to review the list of special
commutation candidates as soon as possible.

"I also urge the most careful attention to each case, to assure that no
inmates who pose a threat to the public safety are freed," Keating wrote.

The governor's letter is the result of the state's budget crisis. The
Corrections Department's budget for fiscal year 2003, which began July 1,
has been cut by about $25.6 million.

Lawmakers gave the Corrections Department an additional $9.8 million in
funding during a Nov. 18 special session to avert employee furloughs.
Corrections officials had announced the department would furlough all
employees for 23 days between Nov. 1 and June 30 without pay to help trim
its budget.

Because of the special session funding, the furloughs have been postponed
until April.

Releasing the inmates would save about $1.5 million. Corrections spokesman
Jerry Massie said it costs the department between $15,000 and $16,000
annually to house an inmate.

Keating said additional action would be required to confront the budget
shortfall in the department. He asked Corrections Director Ron Ward to make
a list of potential inmates for special commutation.

If an inmate's sentence is commuted, he or she is released without
supervision, Massie said.

"A sentence commutation means they have served their time," he said.

Keating's office outlined stringent criteria for the special commutations.

Inmates must have no current or past convictions for violent crimes either
as an adult or a juvenile, must have at most one prior felony
incarceration, must be serving a term of five years or less and must have
no detainers or holds from other jurisdictions.

Additionally, inmates must not be serving delayed sentences and, if
incarcerated for drug offenses, must not have been convicted of trafficking.

"It is essential that we not fall into the trap of some past
administrations, which sought to reduce prison populations without adequate
safeguards to assure that any released inmates pose minimal threats to
public safety," Keating wrote in his letter.

Dan Mahoney, a Keating spokesman, said the initial Corrections Department
list included about 3,000 inmates. Using the additional criteria, the list
was cut to slightly more than 1,000 inmates, Mahoney said.

The Pardon and Parole Board is scheduled to meet Dec. 10-13 in Lexington.
It is unclear whether the five-member board will consider any of the
special commutations because of reporting requirements.

"Many of our board members haven't had a chance to see the governor's
request," said J.D. Daniels, the board's deputy director.

Keating is urging board members to meet as soon as possible to consider the
special commutations.

"When they review the cases is really up to the board," Mahoney said. "The
time frame needed might be longer than the scheduled meeting allows, but it
certainly wouldn't preclude them from calling a special meeting. Of course,
the governor would like them to move as quickly as possible."