1023 - Compassionate Release Act

[Clyde1998]

I have an issue with clause 1 of section 1. I don't feel that biweekly visits would be enough to effectively prevent prisoners who were convicted of serious crimes (like armed robbery, murder, and rape) from committing more crimes in the future. Life imprisonment is a thing for a reason.

I'd be willing to have more frequent visits for more serious crimes, should the House feel that this is required. Although, for most prisoners that would be released, I believe that every two weeks would be enough - due to the increased chance of being caught again. I'd also consider having surprise visits to help with this concern.

[Clyde1998]

There are massive problems with this proposal.

First of all, the federal government has no right to dictate the prisoner release policy of non-federal prisons. Second, federal law already provides for compassionate release: https://www.bop.gov/policy/progstat/5050_049_CN-1.pdf. Third, there is no reason that pregnancy could be considered akin to a terminal illness for any purpose.

Before proposing anything, I urge legislators to consider 1) Does the law already exist? 2) Is it constitutional and 3) Does the government have an interest in the matter? That would severely cut down on the number of redundant or blatantly unconstitutional bills that we're seeing. The arguments taking place should not be on petty things like monitoring of released inmates - those kinds of things are not even for legislators to decide, those are for the bureaucrats in the relevant department to decide. The arguments taking place should be about the Constitution and the role of government.

The bill, at present, makes no suggestion that anything other than Atlasian prisons would be allowed to release inmates on compassionate grounds. "1. Any prisoner held in a prison, under Atlasian jurisdiction, shall be entitled to compassionate release from prison should they have a terminal illness." I'd be willing to modify the terminology to "Federal jurisdiction" to prevent any confusion.

Under the law that you linked to, it appears that only inmates over the age of 65 (unless I'm misinterpreting) should be considered for compassionate release:

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Whereas all other cases listed relate to a reduction in sentence (RIS), rather than release. This bill gives a broader list of cases that can be considered for compassionate release, making the bill relevant.

Pregnancy isn't being put in the same boat as terminal illness. The pregnancy section, currently, states:

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This means that the release is only for the duration of the pregnancy.

Under the three points that you wish legislators to consider:
1) There is a law regarding compassionate release, but this bill adds heavily to it - as there is no mechanism for anyone under 65 (again, unless I've misinterpreted) to be released from prison under compassionate grounds.
2) I believe this bill to be constitutional, especially given that you've pointed out that a bill allow the release of prisoners already exists.
3) People will have different opinion on whether the Government would have an interest in release of prisoners. I believe that the Government should be ensuring that people aren't dying in prison from terminal illnesses when they can have their final days at home around people they love. For the release for pregnancy, I believe that the Government should be ensuring that children have the best possible start to life. Being in prison conditions before they are born wouldn't benefit the unborn child in any way.

But yeah, I still have to object to letting criminals who committed serious crimes out.

Blair has suggested an amendment regarding violent and serious crimes in the Senate that I'm willing to support: https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=243466.msg5218935#msg5218935

[Clyde1998]

I'm not sure if there's much need to have a vote now, as the Senate has already voted against the proposal. Although, there could be a vote to see whether the House supports the bill at this time. Unleash I'm misunderstanding the system in place.