Governor’s Prison Bills All Passed Lawmakers Say Flow Of Minor Offenders Into Overcrowded Prisons Will Be Slowed

Gov. Phil Batt’s prison reform package won final legislative passage Monday, with overwhelming House votes in favor of all four bills.

Lawmakers said the changes would slow the flow of minor offenders into Idaho’s overcrowded prisons, without compromising public safety, and ease their passage through the prison system.

In the past year, three-quarters of those sent to prison in Idaho were nonviolent offenders. More than a third went behind bars for simple drug possession, drunken driving, driving without a license or writing bad checks.

The four bills sent to the governor’s desk Monday are:

SB 1341, easing parole. Allows the Commission for Pardons and Parole to decide how much extra time an offender who violates parole must serve. Now, by law, the entire sentence kicks back in.

This legislation also gives the commission more leeway to release offenders who don’t have homes and jobs waiting, and allows the commission to use hearing officers.

“Due to the increases in inmate population, we need to make changes … to increase efficiency,” said Rep. Debbie Field, R-Boise.

The vote was 66-1, with all North Idaho representatives voting in favor.

SB 1342, theft levels. Changes the definition of grand theft from any theft over $300 to any theft over $1,000.

“A reduction of inmates incarcerated in the state prison system should result from this bill,” said Rep. Twila Hornbeck, R-Grangeville.

The bill passed 61-6, with Reps. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls; and Wayne Meyer, R-Rathdrum; voting against. All other North Idaho representatives voted in favor.

SB 1343, bad checks. Increases the dollar amount for felony charges of writing bad checks to $250.

The measure passed 61-6, with Kellogg voting no. All other North Idaho representatives voted yes.

SB 1344, driving without privileges. Drops felony penalties for third-time offenders who drive without a valid license; adjusts other penalties; and allows community service in lieu of jail time in some cases.

Though no longer felonies, the driving offenses would not be “taken lightly,” said Rep. Paul Kjellander, R-Boise. “These would be some of the toughest misdemeanor penalties on the books today.”

But the offense no longer would be punishable by state prison time. That bill passed 68-1, with all North Idaho representatives voting in favor.

The bills apply only to crimes committed after July 1, 1998. They are awaiting Gov. Batt’s signature.

, DataTimes