Federal Prisons Urged To Grant Early Releases For Sick Prisoners

Human rights group wants prisons to reconsider keeping terminally ill prisoners locked up.

Human Rights Watch and Families Against Mandatory Minimums are urging that America's Federal Prison system grant more early releases for prisoners who have become terminally ill while incarcerated. 

The group says that the Bureau of Prisons oversees more than 218,000 inmates, yet has recommended an average of only 24 compassionate releases a year since 1992.

Their report urges Congress to change the existing laws, which prevents prisoners from challenging BOP decisions in court. It also wants the BOP to bring compassionate release motions to court whenever a prisoner presents compelling arguments, regardless of whether prison officials believe early release is warranted. The report also points out that taking care of sick and ailing prisoners is a key factor in rising costs. Early release would curb these costs.

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