Colorado officials say planning the early release of 15 % prisonersShare

**Yoke** Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:17 pm

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Colorado officials say they are planning the early release of about 15
percent of the state's 23,000 prisoners to help slash millions of dollars
from the state budget.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections,
Katherine Sanguinetti, said that budget cuts that took effect Tuesday call
for the release of 3,500 inmates in Colorado prisons in the next two years.

The move is expected to save about $45 million.
In addition, 2,600 parolees will be released early from their parole obligations.
Prisoners within six months of their mandatory release date will be eligible to end their
sentences early.
Those eligible for early release from parole have to have
served at least half of their supervised term and have been meeting the
conditions of their parole.