More errors at Dept. of Corrections prompt review

Joe Teehan

KGMIAP Photo/Ted S. WarrenSen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, right, listens as Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, left, speaks during a Senate Law and Justice Committee hearing, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The panel approved a subpoena resolution that seeks documents related to the erroneous early release of thousands of prisoners in Washington state.

2-26-2019

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Corrections will begin reviewing up to 3,500 prison sentences after learning at least a dozen inmates were held too long or released too early.

The Seattle Times reports two of the offenders were released early, while 10 others were held beyond their terms.

Corrections officials discovered the problem last year and say they don’t know how long it’s been happening.

A previous coding error in the state’s software system resulted in the premature release of more than 3,000 prisoners over a 13 year period beginning in 2002.

Senators Mike Padden and Steve O’Ban attempted to get a bill passed in 2017 to reform the Department of Corrections, but they say it was quashed by the governor’s office when it reached the House.