Legislation to the General Assembly to Conditional Release Long Termers on Parole...this legislation is important in reducing South Carolina's prison overcrowding and by specifically granting those prisoners whom hae served 20 years or more satisfying the punitive aspect of their sentences a conditional release. We, the People are appalled with how SC Parole Board remains hopeless politicized and seemly vendicitive or is still carrying out punitive punishment as if the sentencing court. Current rejections are based on out dated data such as "Seriousness nature of the offense" and "Use of a deadly weapon" not only should such reasons for rejection be at odds with the legislative intent of the Parole Statute but not even deliberate because they are realities of fact that shall never change It is evident that there's not enough consideration given to the fact that the prisoner has demonstrated by word and action throughout their incarceration they have made impressive strides in resolving their problems and intermal conflicts which led to their imprisonment.
We, ask that this new statute define Long Termers as those prisoners whom were sentenced before 12-03-95, that have served 20 years or more, also to include any Long Termer whom has had their parolee status revoked for technical reasons where no conviction for a violent crime occurred to be granted conditional release under this new statute. We, propose that this new statute have the following prerequisites that any Long Termer must meet to become a suitable candidate for this conditional release; she/he has participated in institutional activities which enhances their behavior and attitude that upon release they can function within law, that she/he have made realistic plans for release or develop markable skills that can sustain their wellbeing, she/he can past a psychology, she/he is of an age that reduces the probabillity of recideivism, and that she/he has a stable family environment or support group to return too.
We, further request that an additional seat is created for an at-large parole board member with the power to cast a vote in the process this seat should be utilixed by a correctional official who has been in a supervisor capacity over the prisoner.
Finally, once the candidate meets the above the Boaed now have specific indicators whether or not placement in a Community Halfway House is appropriate where a successful reintegration process can begin. At this stage the candidate must complete a sixth month probationay period. From this vantage point the Board would be in position to better gage and evaluate the true potentially of the Long Termer progress of rehabilation ascerting the prisoner's readjustment to society and not to institutional stresses to society and not institutional failures, and to society not intitutional temptations. This Conditional Release of Long Termers can sufficiently reduce the State's prison overcrowding situation and ighten the taxpayers' burden!!!
