Article: Oakland (MI,not CA) judge orders early release of 266 from jail - CA Prison News | Google Groups

Article: Oakland (MI,not CA) judge orders early release of 266 from jail - CA Prison News Google Groups: "Oakland judge orders early release of 266 jail inmates August 30, 2007 By JOHN WISELY FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER Chief Oakland County Circuit Judge Wendy Potts today ordered the early release of 266 jail inmates today to alleviate jail overcrowding. About 119 of those prisoners were to be set free today with the rest leaving within 30-40 days as they complete their shortened sentences, Potts said. The list includes 121 felons and 145 people convicted of misdemeanors. Advertisement“The misdemeanants are for things like open intoxicants, some traffic (violations), retail fraud and possession of marijuana,” Potts said today. Felons are serving time on things like possessing less than 25 grams of drugs, passing bogus checks and other crimes, Potts said. The release is the eighth such move in the past two years, freeing about 1,800 prisoners before their sentences were complete. Potts said prisoners considered a high risk to public safety were not eligible for early release, nor were those who have been in trouble in jail or washed out of jail programs such as its boot camp. “If you’ve gotten in trouble in jail, we’re not going to reward with early release,” Potts said. "