March 29, 2012 (updated July 2012):
Study: habitual offender bill
will imprison few, cost little;
Facts prove opponents wrong
will imprison few, cost little;
Facts prove opponents wrong
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The state's overall prison population will grow by just 9 to 14 inmates per year ("net widening") under the proposed habitual offender legislation, according to a March, 2012 study by the Mass. Sentencing Commission.
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The Commission projected that between 28 and 113 felons will lose parole eligibility under the original House and Senate bills, respectively. Fewer than one percent of the state's 11,500 inmates will be ineligible for parole on a "third strike" conviction.
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July 2012 update: Based on the above MSC figures, the number of habitual felons who will lose parole eligibility under the final bill (H.4286) will be fewer than 28 annually.
This is because the final bill's prior-sentence prerequisites are narrower than the original House bill. Plus the original list of 60 targeted crimes has been cut to 40.
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Add to that the bill's early releases on drug sentences (which were not factored into the MSC study), and H.4286 will likely cause a net decrease of state incarcerations. Senate Ways & Means estimates this will actually save the state $5 million annually.
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The Commission projected that between 28 and 113 felons will lose parole eligibility under the original House and Senate bills, respectively. Fewer than one percent of the state's 11,500 inmates will be ineligible for parole on a "third strike" conviction.
.
July 2012 update: Based on the above MSC figures, the number of habitual felons who will lose parole eligibility under the final bill (H.4286) will be fewer than 28 annually.
This is because the final bill's prior-sentence prerequisites are narrower than the original House bill. Plus the original list of 60 targeted crimes has been cut to 40.
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Add to that the bill's early releases on drug sentences (which were not factored into the MSC study), and H.4286 will likely cause a net decrease of state incarcerations. Senate Ways & Means estimates this will actually save the state $5 million annually.
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"We always said our bills target a small handful of the worst, repeat violent offenders," said Les Gosule, initiator of the anti-crime legislation. "These findings prove we are right, and that hysterical claims against the bills are absolutely false."
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Criminal advocate groups have charged that the legislation will add 2,500 inmates annually, will lead to massive prison overcrowding, and will cost the state an additional $125 million a year.
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"These Commission findings point to less than $1 million in new costs -- a small price to pay to protect our public safety from the worst serial predators," said Gosule.
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"We need no more study; we've got all the facts. The sooner the legislature gets this bill on the Governor's desk, the sooner lives will be saved."
