Non-violent inmates being paroled

About 500 inmates who do NOT have a history of violence have been paroled from the state’s prisons this year — and after years of state prison over-crowding, the tide may be changing according to House Democrat Leader David Schrader of Monroe. The state built three, new, medium-security prisons in this decade. House Speaker Brent Siegrist (see’-grist), a republican from Council Bluffs, says the legislature will probably vote to expand minimum-security space, places like half-way houses for soon-to-be-released inmates. Senate Democrat Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs also predicts the 2000 legislature will expand minimum-security space. The legislators made their comments during an appearance on the Iowa Public Television program, “Iowa Press.”