One year after the state began speedy paroles to relieve prison crowding, most of the thousands of prisoners freed early appear to be staying out of trouble.

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles has paroled 3,637 people through so-called "special dockets" for nonviolent offenders. Of those, 155 or 4 percent, have returned to prison, either for new crimes or parole violations. Only about half of those are back for new crimes, according to statistics provided by Cynthia Dillard, assistant executive director of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.

"We were surprised at the low number," Dillard said. "Pleasantly surprised."

Last April, the state began special paroles to cope with federal and state court pressure over crowded prisons. A state budget shortfall added to the crisis, prompting Gov. Bob Riley last fall to double the size of the parole board and hire more parole officers.

Although most of the newly paroled have not been free a full year, parole officials say the low rate of prison returns looks promising.

By comparison, in a typical year, 22 percent to 25 percent of parolees overall return to prison. Some commit new crimes. Others are sent back for violating conditions of parole, such as not reporting to their officers or using drugs.

"I think some of these folks didn't think they'd get out this quick, and they're taking advantage of it," said David Mixson, district supervisor for the Jefferson County parole office.

A plethora of job opportunities, halfway houses and drug treatment in the Birmingham metro area means a lot of the parolees wind up here, even though they committed their crime in the small towns where they're from.

Myranda McDonald, 27, of Talladega, is one.

In June 2002, she was arrested for numerous forgery charges. She was later sentenced to five years for forging checks to buy drugs. Thirteen months later she was out - her early release a combination of good time, credit for pre-sentence time in the county jail and an early parole.

It was "long enough to teach me a lesson," McDonald said.

Almost 10 months on parole, she's managed to steer clear of jail cells. It hasn't been difficult. "Just doing right. Just not being chaotic-y and staying up in some drama," McDonald said.

A halfway house stay and regular attendance at drug recovery programs have helped.

She also works hard, 12-hour shifts operating a machine at Sterilite, a Birmingham manufacturer.

But these abbreviated sentences for drug-related crimes are what frustrates Alabama district attorneys.

A group of DAs met with Riley about two weeks ago to express concerns about the thousands of early paroles, said Jefferson County District Attorney David Barber.

"Number one, these sentences don't really mean a thing. Prison's not a threat anymore to nonviolent offenders," Barber said.

Prosecutors are especially upset about short sentences for drug traffickers, he said.

"Some of them are not even doing two years," Barber said. "Somehow, the parole board seems to have gotten the message that drug offenders, drug dealers are not a problem."

That sends a bad message to people who sell drugs, and youngsters who might consider taking their places, he said.

"It's a not a deterrent," Barber said. The early paroles are "all about money."

No drug traffickers and no one convicted of a Class A felony, the most serious felony, are allowed on the special parole dockets, Dillard said.

Neither Barber nor Birmingham Police Chief Annetta Nunn could immediately link a large number of new crimes to the early paroles.

Barber found one case, a man paroled in September on a string of felonies. He was re-arrested March 18 driving a stolen car, and was also linked to a stolen motorcycle.

Despite the thousands of early paroles, most of the prisoners considered for parole on the special dockets are denied. There have been 8,346 special docket hearings this year, and 43.5 percent were granted, Dillard said.

Still, the increased paroles have helped reduce Alabama's prison population from 28,400 last April to 26,450 in late March. Prisons remain at nearly double capacity.

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