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Prisoner releases must make sense

Labeling criminals as threats to society merely because they have been convicted of low-level drug offenses is absurd, some claim. But releasing them from prison based solely on the same criterion is ridiculous – and possibly dangerous – too.

About 6,000 inmates will be released from federal prisons this month before their sentences are over. That comes because federal court sentencing guidelines for drug offenses have changed. Shorter prison terms are being handed out to those convicted of relatively minor drug crimes.

But among those being set free early are some whose “minor” drug offenses were coupled with major ones – and with violence. An Associated Press examination of early release cases found some inmates being sent back out onto the streets committed violent crimes in addition to their drug dealing. And some, though sentenced solely for low-level misdeeds, also were involved in large-scale drug trafficking.

Clearly, some of the 6,000 prisoners being granted early release are potential dangers to society. As many as 40,000 more inmates may be released through the program.

Instead of considering individual cases, federal officials seem to have decided to sweep the prison system clean of people incarcerated for low-level drug dealing – regardless of what else may be lurking in their histories.

Federal officials should rethink their approach to early releases. No one who may pose a threat to others should be set free just because, in effect, he or she got lucky during their original sentencing.

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