PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Rhode Island House voted Thursday to prevent murderers, child molesters and other violent offenders from leaving prison early for good behavior.
The bill would prohibit those convicted of violent crimes from earning good-time credits. Offenders could still earn early release credits for participating in rehabilitation or educational programs.
Supporters of the measure were motivated by the release last year of Michael Woodmansee, who served a little less than 29 years of a 40-year sentence for killing 5-year-old Jason Foreman of South Kingstown in 1975. Woodmansee, who kept the boy's shellacked bones in his bedroom following the murder, agreed to remain in custody at a psychiatric facility.
Attempts to pass similar measures failed last year after questions were raised about the cost of keeping prisoners behind bars longer and the legality of withholding credits.
Rep. Teresa Tanzi worked on the bill with Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. Tanzi said there's a value to giving prisoners incentives to participate in programs intended to reduce recidivism. But she said prisoners shouldn't be rewarded solely for not acting out behind bars.
"What we don't want is to give people convicted of heinous crimes time off just for existing in prison," said Tanzi, D-South Kingstown. "That's a miscarriage of justice."
Kilmartin said good behavior credits "are a privilege, not a right."
"The passage of the 'time off for good behavior' legislation sends a very strong message that we do not, and will not, allow those who commit the most egregious crimes to earn time off for merely behaving while incarcerated," he said.
The Senate has passed similar legislation but must sign off on the House version.