Illegals eligible for early release from jail

By NANCY WEST
New Hampshire Sunday News
3 hours, 41 minutes ago


Incarcerated illegal aliens now can choose deportation over completion of their full minimum state prison sentences in New Hampshire under an agreement Corrections Commissioner William Wrenn signed with federal immigration officials on Friday.

In conjunction with Wrenn's push to reduce the number of inmates, legislators earlier this year passed a new law that allows the Department of Corrections to release criminal aliens to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation as long as they have served at least one-third of their minimum prison terms.

Eligible prisoners must not have been convicted of a violent crime or sexual offense or obstruction of justice, or been sentenced to an extended prison term.

They must voluntarily waive their right to appeal their state criminal convictions and forgo what can be lengthy federal deportation proceedings.

"This reduces our (inmate) population and saves money," Wrenn said. "There are certain benefits to removing these folks from this country who are here illegally and committing crimes."

Wrenn signed the agreement with the federal Rapid REPAT (Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer) program that allows selected criminal aliens to accept early release in exchange for voluntarily returning to their country of origin.

"We've identified about 50 inmates who are eligible for this program right away. Obviously they have to volunteer, but I understand there is a lot of interest among the inmates," Wrenn said.

The federal program in some other states doesn't require criminal aliens serve any portion of their state sentences, but Wrenn felt it was important they serve at least one-third before becoming eligible in New Hampshire.

The illegal aliens are convicted of state crimes offenses such as burglary and drug crimes, Wrenn said, and have come here illegally from many countries.

"We'll be able to return them to their country of origin in a quick, expedited fashion when they have been here illegally and broken the law," Wrenn said.

The state law also requires inmates who return illegally to the United States after being deported to finish their state sentences, Wrenn said, and under federal law, they could face additional prison time.

Todd Thurlow, assistant field office director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Boston, said the program is successful in other states.

"It saves money for the federal government, not having to detain (the inmates) after they finish their sentences and detain them through immigration proceedings that can take months and sometimes stretch out for years," Thurlow said.

The deportation program is one of several initiatives being pursued by Wrenn to reduce the number of state prison inmates, which currently stands at 2,777.

Another major effort is aimed at reducing recidivism by making more services available through local parole offices. Wrenn also is encouraging more inmates to apply to be monitored at home on electronic bracelets.

In addition, the department is helping inmates who have been granted parole find jobs and housing so they can leave prison.

Wrenn reformulated the sentence modification review board in January. Under another new law, he is required to accept applications from inmates who have worked hard to better themselves to petition the courts for early release. That program is geared more toward rehabilitation than releasing inmates early, Wrenn said.

The program is on hold while portions are rewritten after an outcry from victim advocates when the board recently approved two wife killers, Eric Grant of Dover, and Steven Volkmann of Manchester, to petition the courts for early release.

Grant's hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Strafford County Superior Court in Dover.

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