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Good Reviews For Patrick's Plan To Close Prisons

Gov. Deval Patrick is getting some positive reaction for his proposal to close two prisons and allow non-violent drug offenders to be released on parole.

The proposals are part of the governor's attempt to cut spending, as outlined in his budget plan on Wednesday.

Leslie Walker, executive director of Prisoners' Legal Services, says eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders could reduce the state's prison population by 10 percent.

"Massachusetts should try to close as many prisons as they can," Walker said. "They're enormously expensive, and there's not enough money to treat and train and educate prisoners, so there's a very expensive warehousing that goes on."

Administration officials won't say which prisons would close.

More Budget Coverage:

This program aired on January 28, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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Fred Thys Reporter
Fred Thys reported on politics and higher education for WBUR.

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