Early Release Program for Prisoners Expected to End

6/9/11- Wisconsin lawmakers gave their final approval yesterday to ending the early release program for state prisoners. The Assembly voted to send the measure to Governor Scott Walker, who has said he’ll sign it. Former Democratic Governor Jim Doyle put the early release program into the state budget two years ago, saying it would give non-violent inmates an incentive to behave so they could go home earlier. And Doyle said it would save the state money. But Republicans say it has done neither – and some dangerous criminals have been let go. The Assembly also voted to end the requirement that police determine the racial-and-ethnic backgrounds of all motorists in the vehicles they stop.