SC

SC Prisons In Hot Water Over Drug Sentencing

HUNDREDS OF INMATES RELEASED IN THE AFTERMATH OF RECENT COURT CASE The S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDC) has released hundreds of inmates after losing a lawsuit over the way it calculated drug sentences.  The suit – brought by inmate Michael Bolin – alleged that the department was incorrectly applying “no parole”…

HUNDREDS OF INMATES RELEASED IN THE AFTERMATH OF RECENT COURT CASE

The S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDC) has released hundreds of inmates after losing a lawsuit over the way it calculated drug sentences.  The suit – brought by inmate Michael Bolin – alleged that the department was incorrectly applying “no parole” status to certain offenses (thus keeping inmates incarcerated on drug charges longer than the law allowed).

Bolin pleaded guilty in May 2012 to a second offense conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine charge and a second offense possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine charge.  He also pleaded guilty to a weapons violation.

Bolin was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on each methamphetamine offense and one year of imprisonment on the gun charge.  After Bolin began serving his time, he was informed that if he failed to earn parole on the two meth-related charges, these convictions “would thereafter be treated as no-parole offenses.”

He protested, arguing that SCDC “incorrectly calculated his projected release date by requiring him to serve eighty- five percent of his sentence and, thus, treating his conspiracy and intent to distribute offenses as no-parole offenses.”

Here’s the case …

Sources tell us the SCDC – part of governor Nikki Haley‘s cabinet – routinely miscalculates sentencing requirements, but that this particular error represented a massive pooch-screw involving “hundreds of inmates.”

In fact many of these inmates have reportedly already been released in the aftermath of Bolin winning his case before the S.C. court of appeals earlier this year.

How many inmates?  More than two hundred, we’re told.  Another 1,000 inmates are likely to have their sentences reduced as a result of the ruling.

For the record, this website’s views regarding the “War on Drugs” have been made abundantly clear: We don’t support it.  Individual liberty and free market ideology dictates that Americans have certain recreational and economic rights that government should not suppress.

This botched sentencing fiasco is further evidence of the problems inherent in this failed, costly “war.”

Trent Pruett, Bolin’s attorney, put it best …

“We have limited resources,” Pruett said.  “We have to be selective about who the state chooses to incarcerate.  I’m not sure locking up non-violent drug offenders for years on end is the most appropriate use of those limited resources.”

We concur …

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26 comments

Money, Money, Money March 31, 2016 at 12:03 pm

I’m sure that the industrial incarceration complex is freaking out about this, as probably at least 50% of their revenue comes from imprisoning drug users for victimless crimes.

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pope March 31, 2016 at 12:08 pm Reply
Fecal Matters March 31, 2016 at 12:46 pm

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of doctors nationwide are handing out Oxycontin prescriptions like candy.

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Sic Semper Tyrannis March 31, 2016 at 1:02 pm

Where?

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TroubleBaby March 31, 2016 at 1:05 pm

lol…ok, that’s funny, +1 for you

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Fecal Matters March 31, 2016 at 1:32 pm

Shop around. That’s how it works, right?

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Sic Semper Tyrannis March 31, 2016 at 2:00 pm

I can get Tylenol#3 that’s about it.

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9" March 31, 2016 at 4:19 pm

Get some codeine phosphate,baby boy.It’s the acetaminophen that messes up your liver,and gets you impacted.You don’t want to end up like Elvis;dying on the throne..

Sic Semper Tyrannis March 31, 2016 at 5:05 pm

Appreciate the info turd sucker. Going to the Doc next week, been exhausted for a month now.

9" March 31, 2016 at 6:18 pm

hope you feel better,soon

Flip March 31, 2016 at 1:04 pm

And the pharmaceutical cartel gives them perks for peddling their wares.

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TroubleBaby March 31, 2016 at 1:06 pm

“golf trips, visits from pretty young “sales reps”, Infotainment educational conferences in Vegas, Mytrle Beach, Miami, etc.”

Legal drug dealing is very profitable with close to zero risk.

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Tazmaniac March 31, 2016 at 2:58 pm

They only give them a trip to Myrtle when they are pushing a new antibiotic.

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nitrat March 31, 2016 at 7:03 pm

They don’t make new antibiotics because antibiotics actually cure; once cured, no more need for the drug.
Big Pharma ONLY develops drugs for long term/life long treatment of conditions

shifty henry March 31, 2016 at 1:05 pm

The ads on this page outnumber the comments by 3x

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Flip March 31, 2016 at 1:05 pm

You aren’t ad blocking properly then. : )

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shifty henry March 31, 2016 at 3:04 pm

not yet …

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Rocky Verdad March 31, 2016 at 1:14 pm

I’m glad to see the ads back. Will needs to eat – in this lousy economy :)

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Tazmaniac March 31, 2016 at 3:10 pm

I would be interested in hearing from Mike On The Beach about non-biased studies, if any, on this subject. Yes,we could potentially save taxpayer money by releasing these inmates. But what about the cost to society with them out. I think there is a HUGE assumption that if out these guys will be working a 9-5 and paying taxes. Was the drug charge their only crime? If I were breaking in to homes and businesses stealing thousands of dollars of stuff but not beating anyone up do I deserve a break?

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Lone Ranger March 31, 2016 at 3:30 pm

That’s right—Will says…pfft…pfft…I’m against the war on
drugs…pfft…pfft…and for me it’s not a joke

And I’m for letting MORE crystal meth makers out to kill
your children—hey—anybody got a toke ???

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CorruptionInColumbia March 31, 2016 at 4:01 pm

For some time now, I’ve thought it nothing short of folly that we continue to repeat the mistakes of Prohibition with regards to most modern drug laws. I feel this especially is true with regard to incarcerating people for growing or possessing plant material that is capable of growing in nature.

Because like Prohibition before them, our drug laws and “War On Drugs” has been such a costly, dismal, flop, which has only stood to bolster organized crime, crooked cops, crooked judges, crooked attorneys, crooked politicians, and more, I am at a point where I wouldn’t be opposed to legalizing harder stuff such as heroine, cocaine, and the like. Like alcohol before, during, and after, Prohibition, people will find a way to obtain it, use it, and abuse it, if they really want to.

That said, due to the highly hazardous nature of the manufacturing process and environmental damages to homes and other buildings where made, I have no problem locking someone convicted of manufacturing meth up and throwing away the key. First offense should be a minimum 5 years with no early release. Second and subsequent offenses should be a minimum of 15 years with no early release.

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Judicial Watch March 31, 2016 at 11:25 pm

The entire judicial system is a mickey mouse system that is so screwed up and corrupt, you could never imagine unless you work in it.

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scrotenecks April 1, 2016 at 2:08 am

i’m sure these parolees will go back to being honest law abiding citizens

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malcolmkyle April 1, 2016 at 6:49 am

Why do you wish to continue with a policy that has proven itself to be a poison in the veins of our once so proud & free nation? Even if you cannot bear the thought of people using drugs, there is absolutely nothing you or any government can do to stop them. We have spent 40 years and trillions of dollars on this dangerous farce; Prohibition will not suddenly and miraculously start showing different results. Do you actually believe you may personally have something to lose If we were to begin basing our drug policy on science & logic instead of ignorance, hate and lies?

Maybe you’re a police officer, a prison guard, or a local/national politician. Possibly you’re scared of losing employment, overtime pay, the many kickbacks, and those regular fat bribes. But what good will any of that do you once our society has followed Mexico over the dystopian abyss of dismembered bodies, vats of acid, and marauding thugs carrying gold-plated AK-47s with leopard-skinned gunstocks?

Kindly allow us to forgo the next level of your sycophantic prohibition engendered mayhem!

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thatmakessense April 1, 2016 at 7:37 pm

you could have just said you are an anarchist. let the lunatics run the asylum .

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malcolmkyle April 1, 2016 at 6:48 am

Prohibition has failed.

SWISS HEROIN-ASSISTED TREATMENT 1994- 2016: SUMMARY

* Crime Issues: 60% drop in felony crimes by patients (80% drop after one year in the program). 82% drop in patients selling heroin.

* Death Rates: No one has died from a heroin overdose since the inception of the program. The heroin used is inspected for purity and strength by technicians.

* Disease Rates: New infections of Hepatitis and HIV have been reduced for patients in the program.

* New Use Rates: Slightly lower than expected. 1) As reported in the Lancet June 3, 2006, the medicalisation of using heroin has tarnished the image of heroin and made it unattractive to young people. 2) Most new users are introduced to heroin by members of their social group and 50% of users also deal to support their habit. Therefore, with so many users/sellers in treatment, non-users have fewer opportunities to be exposed to heroin, especially in the rural areas.

* Cost Issues: 48 dollars/day: Patient costs are covered by national health insurance agency. Patients pay 700 dollars/year for the compulsory insurance. Note: The Swiss save about 38 dollars per day per patient mostly in lowered costs for court and police time, due to less crime committed by the patients.

* In December 2008 the Swiss voted (68%-32%) to make the program part of their body of laws.

Heroin assisted treatment is fully a part of the national health system in Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. Additional trials are being carried out in Canada and Belgium.

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