The Associated Press reports that West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin is proposing to address the state's problem of prison overcrowding by creating an accelerated parole program and increasing funding for release programs, among other ideas. The story quotes Alison Shames, associate director of Vera's Center on Sentencing and Corrections:

Manchin's proposals are in line with what's happening elsewhere in the country, as lawmakers and leaders re-evaluate long-held stances on crime in light of severe budget problems, according to Alison Shames, associate director of the Center on Sentencing and Corrections at the Vera Institute of Justice in New York.

"We are seeing a lot of interest from conservative politicians in programs that are proven to work, that have a track record of turning people around," she said.

Accelerated parole programs are becoming a popular option, she said, because it involves mostly nonviolent drug offenders and can quickly show dividends for states.

"Even saving 30 days on the sentences of a thousand offenders saves a lot of bed space," she said.