Sen. Kevin Lundberg attempted today to quash Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter’s early prison release program, which freed sex offenders and violent criminals before their sentences were up.
“Sex offenders, murderers and habitually violent offenders were not supposed to be eligible for early release,” said Lundberg, citing a report in The Denver Post that detailed the violent backgrounds of the first 10 inmates freed under the early release program.
Despite having put hardened criminals on the street prematurely, Senate Democrats stood by the program that was put forward as a budget balancing measure in August. They rejected Lundberg’s plan, which would have offset the early release program with a cut to personal services.
According to the Post, thousands of prisoners, including thieves, drug dealers and killers are eligible for early release under Ritter’s plan. Among the first 10 freed was a man accused three times of sex offenses, a drunken driver convicted of vehicular homicide and a man arrested 46 times for assault.
“The first wave of parolees released under this program demonstrates why it is a threat to public safety,” Lundberg said.