Proposals to Ease Prison Overcrowding

     TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas corrections officials say they plan to propose legislation aimed at easing overcrowding in the state's prisons. Kansas Department of Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts told a Senate committee Tuesday that legislation supported by Gov. Sam Brownback could free up as many as 800 prison beds in the next two years. Roberts told the Senate Judiciary Committee the legislation would include $5 million over two years. It also would give probation supervisors more authority and create graduated penalties for probation violators. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/Ukiv0a ) Roberts' goal is to make supervision of high-risk offenders and reducing recidivism top priorities. Roberts said the recommendations came from his department's Justice Reinvestment work group. It was established last year in conjunction with the Pew Center for the States and the U.S. Justice Department.