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Oops! Detective movie? Computer glitch frees 3200 WA prisoners early, "coding" stubborn as a mule stays for 13 years since 2002
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telegraph.co.uk 23 Dec 2015 - Computer glitch frees 3,200 prisoners early in Washington state: the governor of Washington state has admitted that 3,200 prisoners have been released by mistake from his jails, after a computer glitch approved their early discharge.
Since computer systems were updated in 2002, around three percent of criminals have been released early due to an error that incorrectly calculated credit for "good time" served. Some of those who were released early will have to return to prison to finish their sentence, said Jay Inslee, the governor. Five have already been put back behind bars.
"That this problem was allowed to continue for 13 years is deeply disappointing to me, totally unacceptable and, frankly, maddening," said Mr Inslee on Tuesday. "So, when I learned of this, I immediately ordered the department to fix it, fix it fast and fix it right."
Mr Inslee said he had asked the state to work with local law enforcement to identify those people who need to be returned, and 7 of the 3,200 have so far been identified. The state estimates the average number of days offenders were released early is 49, with the luckiest prisoner being released 600 days early.
The state was made aware of the error in 2012 when the family of a crime victim learned the offender responsible was being released too early. But the state says the "coding fix was repeatedly delayed".
The new chief information officer found out how bad the problem was and alerted state officials this month, and the governor's executive team were informed last week. America imprisons more of its citizens than any country in the world, with 2.3 million citizens behind bars. That equates to 716 people per 100,000 - compared to 101 per 100,000 in the UK. In October, the ministry of justice announced plans to release 6,000 inmates coming to the end of their drug sentences, in a bid to reduce overcrowding.
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Photos courtesy VICE News and AP / Telegraph UK