THIS is 'investigative reporting'? Did I miss something? Everyday I shake my head more and more at how pathetic the news is. Facts are either watered down or completely made up, and even so, most 'news' is far from interesting at best. Michael Moore did a documentary about Heath Care in america and wow.... would you look at that... what are we knee deep in right now? If there was a reporter in Nevada who had half a brain or a tad more energy than a house cat, they would INVESTIGATE the total fraud and waste that goes on behind prison walls and in our parole/pardon system. The The Director of Prisons and the Gov. have been presented with over a dozen ideas to save TENS OF MILLIONS of dollars for this state with PROVEN statistics that clearly show that public safety would not be impacted and yet they continue to stick their head in the sand and rape the tax payers of Nevada by turning a blind eye. NOT ONLY THAT... but by turning a blind eye to the fraud, they also turn a blind eye, and possibly even SUPPORT a plethera of ILLEGAL ACTIVITY without any accountability or authority with any guts to stop them. This illegal activity not only costs tax payers millions each year, but also turns convicts who where headed down the wrong road and propells them at 90 miles an hour because now they have even MORE disdain for authority and the 'law' by witnessing how corrupt the 'keepers' are who are supposed to 'protect and serve' but instead they are often worse then those they watch and are an embarrasement to all state workers. Have you ever noticed that there are about 2-3 times more articles about prison staff, than the inmates? And its either they are screwing off (literally) at work or getting fired for 'whistleblowing'... hum.. anyone see a story here? Gee, duh,.... I just don't know! Ya THINK?

The Parole Board needs to stop trumping (over-riding) elected judge's sentences. Judge's sentence people for a 'range' of time.. say 5-10 years. That is to mean that if they are 'good', they should be paroled at 5 years.. if they are bad.. they stay the whole 10. Just about everyone gets at least one parole denial no matter how GOOD they are... there is no reward for doing good in prison. For every 3 year parole denial it costs the state more than one year of a teachers salary. Close schools, cut teacher's salaries, and build more prisons... what are we setting our kids up for if we keep showing them what we are 'investing' in..? The prison system does not rehabilitate.. most come out worse, not better.. and you and I pay for that? How stupid!!!

REDUCE sentances for minor crimes? How about paroling those who HAVE served the minimum on their sentances, who HAVE done their time, learned their lesson, are more rehabilitated and are NOT the same person they were when they went in? These are the ones who cost the state the most as they are growing old and require more medical. OR how 'bout changing consecutive sentences to concurrant? OR holding two pardons board hearings a year as the law states (and actually granting some clemancy for those who earn it). OR reducing sentences for accomplices who had no control over the person who committed the crime. OR releasing innocent people. There are countless smarter ways to reduce prison population without impact to public safety and still punishing those who deserve it.

What did the inmates do wrong? Did any of them COMMIT a crime other then trying to work to support themselves and their families... and for that the DOC said "fire them"... hum.. no job, no money, getting fired for doing nothing wrong... and we wonder why they end up back in prison. I think we should put some of our gov't officials in prison because THEY are actually committing a crime by not following their own laws.!

Judge Hardesty ROCKS.... and has done a wonderful job with this committee. I just hope that all the hard work of ALL the committee members, the advocates (both for the inmates and victims), and the public, doesn't fall on deaf ears during the legislature. We MUST keep the torch burning and held high. This is NOT the time to let up on efforts, but instead, be strong and confidently carry them forward to make change that is positive for this state and the people of this state (including those 13,000+ who are in prison sucking up our tax dollars while countless victims are losing their jobs/homes to keep them there. There are alternative answers, treatment, rehabilitation options. There is community, working together, forgiveness and peace... if only we work together to find solutions for EVERYONE.

The first thing we need to do is DEFINE who is 'violent' and 'non-violent'. I know MANY people who are convicted of 'non-violent' crimes who ARE very violent and have committed (but not convicted of) numerous violent acts and I would NOT want them living in my community. However, I also know some people who are labeled 'violent' due to ONE incident/crime/event who are the most non-violent people you could ever hope to meet and you would LOVE them to live next door to you because they KNOW and UNDERSTAND what the word means and what it doesn't. This state needs to start treating people as people and not 'label' them for an act they may not have been able to prevent or for something that happened when they were very young and they are now very old.... they are NOT the same person just like you and I are not the same people as we were 15-20 years ago. There is no reason to pay $20k year to keep someone locked up who is no longer a danger to society. Most felons convicted of violent crimes have less then 1% recidivism where as your 'non-violent' criminals have as high as a 70% statistic to re-commit a crime... yet you all want them out soooo bad. I hope they go rob your homes for their next dope fix, not mine.

She should not be denied assistance because she used drugs. She SHOULD BE DENIED because she did not take responsibly for her actions. The guy should be charged for rape because he raped her! However, if it were murder and she aggravated it, it might be self defense...so although I don't think its right that men rape women, I do think women can't put themselves in positions that are just stupid and then put all the blame on others and then also ask for financial help. I also think we could use more help for men to teach them to respect women more.