By Tina Terry
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Convicted criminals from the Charlotte area – sentenced to years in prison for murder, kidnapping and other crimes – have gotten out of prison on the weekends even though they weren’t finished serving their time.
“It makes a mockery of our court system,” said Judy Williams.
Williams co-founded a support group for the families of murder victims.
“No victims’ family should have to worry about seeing that person in a grocery store or a golf course before that minimum sentence is served,” Williams said.
However, a Department of Corrections program allows it. A DOC document states that inmates qualify for the Home Leave Program if they’re “within 12 months of a release or a parole eligibility date.”
Full story: Department of Corrections program allows inmates out on weekends