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Minn. prisons slow to roll out earned early release, observers say

David Boehnke of the Minnesota Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee challenged the DOC, noting none of the nine early releases were Black or Hispanic, despite the prison population being 40% Black.
The DOC stated initial reviews were limited to specific eligibility criteria, not excluding any group, as officials carefully roll out the program on Tuesday.
Of the nine people released last year, five had drug-related offenses, two had convictions for driving while intoxicated, and two had weapons cases; Eligible people can earn up to a 17% reduction by completing case plan goals.
Meaningful rehabilitation is incentivized by the program while maintaining strong safeguards for public safety, DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell said; the law requires savings from reduced incarceration support victim services and reintegration.
Arguing that access to programs changes futures, Derrick Dukes noted justice is about possibility, not only punishment, based on his 32 years of incarceration.

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