Democrats play election-year politics with public safety

OREGON REPUBLICAN PARTY, 2/17/2010, House Republicans Join Crime Victims, Law Enforcement in Calling for Repeal of 2009 Earned Time Law - SALEM: House Republicans today joined Oregon’s crime victims and members of the law enforcement community in calling for the repeal of a 2009 law that has allowed violent criminals to seek- and in many cases win- early release from prison. They opposed the Democrats’ effort (SB 1007) to suspend these early releases until after the November elections have passed. ∴ “The Legislature can’t ‘fix’ the damage that has been done to crime victims by the expansion of the earned time law,” said Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany). “Suspending this expansion for the campaign season, rather than repealing this flawed policy, is yet another insult to these victims. It is also an insult to Oregon’s law enforcement community that has worked hard to put these criminals behind bars.”

During the 2009 session, Democrats pushed the suspension of Measure 57 and the expansion of the earned time law in order to save $6 million in a $52.9 billion state budget. Since HB 3508 was passed last year, 4,800 early releases have been granted and some of the criminals who’ve been released have already re-offended.

“The horse has left the barn; 4,800 felons have already been granted early release under the 30 percent law,” said State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, Newberg, St. Paul). “We’re trying to close the barn doors for a couple of years but that just doesn’t make any sense. It’s bad public policy now and it will continue to be in the future.”

Rather than passing an election-year freeze of the law, House Republicans favor repealing the earned-time portion of the 2009 law and reinstating the maximum 20 percent earned time law that has protected the public for 20 years.

“The Attorney General, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Oregon Chiefs of Police and the District Attorney’s Association have begged this institution to repeal this law,” said Rep. Tim Freeman (R-Roseburg). “Unfortunately, this plea has fallen on deaf ears in the Legislature. It is a mistake to destroy truth in sentencing in Oregon and send the wrong message to career criminals.”