BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP)
April 6, 2004
 
The great majority of Alabama inmates freed as a result of an early release program are staying out of jail, a survey showed.

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles has paroled 3,637 inmates through "special dockets" for nonviolent offenders. Of that group, 155, or 4 percent, have returned to prison.

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.

The state began the special paroles a year ago to cope with federal and state court pressure over prison crowding.

A state budget shortfall prompted Gov. Bob Riley last fall to double the size of the parole board and hire more parole officers, in line with reducing the cost of prison operations.

Parole officials say the low rate of returns looks promising.

In a typical year, 22 percent to 25 percent of parolees return to prison. Some commit new crimes, while 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.

Myranda McDonald, 27, of Talladega, was arrested in June 2002 on forgery charges. She was later sentenced to five years for forging checks to buy drugs. Thirteen months later she was free, partly as a result of early parole.

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

A halfway house stay and regular attendance at drug recovery programs have helped. She works 12-hour shifts operating a machine at Sterilite, a Birmingham manufacturer.

But abbreviated sentences for drug-related crimes frustrate Alabama district attorneys. A group of them met with Riley about two weeks ago to express concerns about the 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."

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