By P. Solomon Banda
Associated Press
DENVER — Colorado officials plan to release roughly 15 percent of the state’s 23,000 prisoners early to help slash millions of dollars from the state budget.
Department of Corrections spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti says budget cuts that took effect Tuesday call for the release of 3,500 inmates in Colorado prisons during the next two years.
The move is expected to save about $45 million during the next two years.
An additional 2,600 parolees will be released early from parole.
Prisoners within six months of their mandatory release date will be eligible to get out early.
Those eligible for early release from parole have to have served at least half of their supervised term and been meeting the conditions of their release.