Frederica Freyberg:
We shift gears now to a different law and order story in the news this week. A new early release program in Wisconsin is letting the first inmates out from behind bars. The state budget cutting move could affect some 3,000 inmates and save as much as $30 million over two years. This week the Department of Corrections released 25 inmates, with more to come. But one state lawmaker is calling for an end to the early releases even from afar. Rep. Scott Suder is currently serving in Iraq with the Wisconsin Air National Guard and joins us by phone from there. Rep. Suder, thanks very much for doing so.

Scott Suder:
Thanks for having me very much. Nice talking to you.

Frederica Freyberg:
So, you're keeping up on state business even while on army business?

Scott Suder:
Yes. We — my legislative staff keeps me very well-informed, and I've got great colleagues on both sides of the aisle that keep in contact with me. Yep, the Internet is a wonderful thing and a wonderful resource, and I certainly keep in touch by phone as well and it helps me keep in touch with my constituents.

Frederica Freyberg:
Why do you want to repeal the early release program?

Scott Suder:
Well, for a number of reasons, actually. It's no secret that I'm not a fan of the program. We fought it ever since its inception. However, now we found out some interesting things that have happened in Illinois. Illinois has had some serious problems with their early release program. In fact, many of the inmates they released have returned to prison. Some have done new offenses, as a matter of fact. Gov. Quinn has called the program a big mistake. He has called for changes. We are taking a look into our early release program and we've learned some disturbing things about our program. Of those individuals that were released just recently, one is a five-time drunk driver. In fact, he was denied release by a sentencing court last December. But the Department of Corrections, for some reason, still let him out. Many other of these individuals are repeat offenders, repeat felons. Some very serious crimes, burglary, felony, manufacturing of cocaine. Some have already been convicted of bail jumping. While the Department of Corrections may say these are “nonviolent” offenders, I still think they're dangerous and I still think they're going to re-offend. Many of these individuals at least from our preliminary research show that they are career criminals and I don't trust them. Maybe they're nicer people. Maybe they're nicer felons than the ones in Illinois, but I doubt it. And I don't trust them not to re-offend. On top of that, it is a problem that no one's being notified. Even our own attorney general had to read this in the paper. Prosecutors, victims, sheriffs and certainly members of the community are not being notified. So the question of public safety might be a risk. I think there's a high chance these individuals are going to re-offend. And no one is being notified. So the program has some serious problems.

Frederica Freyberg:
It should be said so people understand that Corrections is reviewing these inmates eligible and releasing these inmates for their good behavior behind bars and, furthermore, not releasing people that have been convicted of crimes such as homicide or sexual assault. And so why should we kind of base our program at its earliest point right here on Illinois's program? Don't you trust that Wisconsin can somehow get it right, where Illinois may not have been able to?

Scott Suder:
Well, you know, I would hope that that's the case. But the problem lies in the fact that, one, you know, the people that are deciding who to let out are bureaucrats. I'm sure they're nice people, but these are not judges. These are not prosecutors. These are not individuals that were intimately involved and know everything about their cases. In fact, judges and prosecutors aren't even consulted because the governor vetoed language that we had placed in the budget which would have required at least a consultation with judges and prosecutors who are familiar with the cases. So unelected bureaucrats letting prisoners go, and, again, five-time drunk drivers when in fact, look, we have a legislator who's, you know, has some serious charges against him and a special legislative committee has been formed to determine whether or not he might even be kicked out of the assembly. And yet at the same time the Department of Corrections, with a five-time repeat offender that a sentencing court even said, nope, he should stay in prison, is letting them out the door. So, you know, I think the problem is there's rhetoric on one hand and reality on the other. And when the governor says, quote, the only safe way with repeat drunk drivers to keep them away from harming people is to lock them up, I think we should take him at his word. I would hope that his Department of Corrections would start listening to him. So I think the program has some serious problems. I think it should end immediately, at the very least we should hold hearings and find out whether or not why individuals like five-time drunk drivers and burglary felonies and individuals who have manufactured cocaine and bail jumped are being let out of the prison gate.

Frederica Freyberg:
We need to leave it there. Rep. Scott Suder, thanks very much for joining us.

Scott Suder:
Thank you for having me.