Nevada
Articles
04/17/2009 – Las Vegas Review-Journal: “Editorial: Prison Pilot Program“
“Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, told Finance Committee members Monday that Senate Bill 398 could reduce the state’s prison population and save millions of dollars by creating a two-year “intermediate sanction” pilot program for low-risk probation violators as well as people whose crimes are linked to alcohol or drug addiction.”
04/14/2009 – The Nevada Appeal: “Pilot Program for Parole Violators Would Save Money”, by Geoff Dornan
“Senate Bill 398 by Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, would create a pilot program providing 400 beds for parole and probation violators who are now simply returned to prison for an average of 18-24 months. In addition, it would provide them with drug and alcohol treatment programs since, according to Horsford, that is what got most of those inmates in trouble in the first place.”
10/30/2008 – The Nevada Appeal: “Pardons Board to Look at Reducing Prison Overcrowding”, by Geoff Dornan
“Overcrowding is forcing the state to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on prison construction. The prison population is at more than 13,000 currently.”
09/14/2008 – Las Vegas Sun: “Detention Changes Under Way”, by James Hardesty
“Although funding may be tight, the state must prioritize its dollars to reduce overcrowding and recidivism and protect the public. Now more than ever, the state must identify improvements to make the system more efficient and effective.”
09/07/2008 – Las Vegas Sun: “Editorial: Overcrowded Prisons: State Legislature Should Consider Alternative Sentencing for Nonviolent Offenders“
“Lawmakers should give judges the latitude in many cases to impose alternative sentences. They should also fully fund probation departments to oversee the offenders, along with increasing the number of drug and mental health treatment programs.”
08/31/2008 – Las Vegas Sun: “Services Help Determine Whether Probation Succeeds”, by Steve Kanigher and Alex Richards
“Opponents of probation contend that high probation rates lead to higher crime rates, but judging from other states’ success, it all depends on what you do with those probationers.”
05/29/2008 – Channel 4 – KRNV: “Nevada Women’s Minimum Security Camp to Close“
“One of only two female minimum security conservation camps in Nevada will be temporarily closed.”
04/17/2008 – Las Vegas Review Journal: “ State Parole Board: ‘Can’t do’ Approach Draws Fire”, by Ed Vogel
“Legislators complained Wednesday that the state Parole Board constantly has come up with excuses why it cannot carry out a 2007 law that could have led to the early release of more than 1,300 inmates.”
04/15/2008 – Las Vegas Review Journal: “ Fast-Track Parole Hearings May Not Restrain Crowding”, by Ed Vogel
“A proposed regulation designed to speed up parole hearings might do little to curb prison crowding, a Parole Board official said Monday.”
“The regulation, which could be adopted by the Legislative Commission on Wednesday, would allow low-risk inmates to waive their right to appear in person for their parole hearings.”
02/01/2008 – Nevada Appeal: “Parole Board Back To Full Strength, Faces More Than 1,600 February Hearings,” by Geoff Dornan
“Effective Monday, Nevada’s Parole Board will be back to full strength.”
11/13/2007 – Associated Press: “Funding Sought To Deal with New Nevada Parole Law,” by Brendan Riley
“A state panel recommended Tuesday that lawmakers approve nearly $1.3 million in emergency funding to help Nevada parole officials deal with a new law giving additional rights to inmates seeking release from prison.
8/07/2007 – KRNV: “Governor Gibbons Speaks Out About Nevada Prison Management Criticism”, by Marina Hicks
“One day after Nevada’s Secretary of State called upon Gov. Jim Gibbons to convene the prison board, because of problems with the prison system, Gibbons’ office is speaking out.”
7/31/2007 – KVBC: “Prison Relief Too High a Cost?”, by Jesse Corona
“Some people are questioning Nevada’s recent state law to let prison inmates out early to relieve the overpopulated prisons. But a recent brutal murder has brought this new law to light.”
7/25/2007 – Nevada Appeal: “Criminal Justice Commission Sees Lack of Services as Key Issue”, by Geoff Dornan
“Presentations from the Department of Corrections, Parole Board and Parole and Probation Division made it clear alternatives that could keep offenders out of prison and parolees out of trouble were woefully inadequate in Nevada. As a result of Nevada’s tough sentencing and criminal prosecution policies, Director of Corrections Howard Skolnik said he will add 439 more staff over the next 18 months, bringing his total personnel to more than 2,800. And he said it costs $250,000 to build each new prison bed and up to $22,000 a year to keep each inmate.”
6/20/2007 – Nevada Appeal: “Prison Handing Illegal Aliens Over to Federal Authority”, by Geoff Dornan
“Nevada has turned 77 prison inmates over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.”
5/22/2007 – Nevada Appeal: “Prison Reforms Included In Proposed Budget,” by Geoff Dornan ”
“The Assembly Ways and Means Committee approved a Nevada Department of Corrections budget assuming reforms that would reduce the prison population enough to free up more than $28 million.”
4/18/2007 – Las Vegas Review Journal: “Prisons Too Full, Judge Warns”, by Sean Whaley ”
“Nevada Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty told members of the Legislature on Tuesday the state needs to commit to reducing the state prison population by 2,000 inmates in the coming several months.”
4/18/2007 – Nevada Appeal: “Justice: Prison Reform Needs Urgent, by Geoff Dornan
“Nevada Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty warned lawmakers Tuesday they must act to reduce crowding before the prison system goes over its maximum capacity.”
4/17/2007 – Nevada Appeal: “Prison Experts Meet with Lawmakers Today in Effort to Control Growth”, by Geoff Dornan
“Nationally known experts on prisons and corrections will meet with Nevada lawmakers today to suggest changes they say could help reduce growth of inmate numbers by reducing the growth of crime.”
4/16/2007 – The Ely Times: “As We See It: Lawmakers Must Act on Prison Crisis”, by Sean Whaley”
“The Nevada Legislature can’t wait much longer before it solves the prison problem in the state. Nevada’s prisons are overcrowded and understaffed. The state’s prisons are stuffed with 13,113 inmates (as of May 3). That’s about 1,200 more prisoners than the system should hold.”
4/05/2007 – Nevada Appeal: “ Gibbons Warns Against Prison Overcrowding”, by Joe Mullin”
“Expanding Nevada prisons is an absolute necessity in a growing state regardless of what other reforms lawmakers might consider, Gov. Jim Gibbons said Thursday.”