New Law Lets Nonviolent Ex-Convicts Earn Their Way Off Parole

From latimes.com: Hoping to reduce the number of Californians who cycle in and out of prison, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has quietly signed a bill allowing nonviolent ex-convicts to earn their way off parole early by completing an intensive drug treatment program.

Under the law, which takes effect in January, only ex-convicts who were serving time for nonviolent crimes — such as drug or property offenses — and have completed at least six months of addiction treatment in prison will be eligible. No one convicted of a sex offense will qualify.

Once released, eligible parolees who wish to participate will be sent directly to a residential drug treatment program for five months. If they graduate, they will immediately be freed from parole supervision. Rest of Article. . . [Mark Godsey]