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Time Off for Good Behavior in Custody?

By stladmin on September 1, 2019

If you have been convicted of a crime, and have spent weeks or months awaiting sentencing, you are not alone. The average time a person spends waiting for sentencing in Wyoming is 57 days, and is often far longer, usually months. It has been proposed that the law be rewritten so that a prisoner can apply the days spent waiting for sentencing or a transfer to prison be taken off his or her sentence as “time served.”

Avoiding Conviction

Let’s face facts – the best way to avoid prison is to avoid conviction altogether, or to get probation rather than incarceration. With Wyoming laws dictating prison sentences for minor drug crimes, or even trespassing, it is no wonder that our prison system is overloaded with people who pose little to no risk to society at large.

To avoid conviction, no matter the level of the crime you are accused of, you need the help of a criminal defense lawyer who knows the Wyoming criminal justice system cold. If you are facing charges, whether a misdemeanor or felony, call Steven Titus & Associates, P.C., at (307) 257-7800. We are proud of our win-loss ratio in court, and as trial lawyers, we can take on any of the top state prosecutors with confidence. Once we accept a case, we do everything possible to help our clients avoid jail or prison time.

Wyoming Prisons

Our overloaded prison system is facing problems that must be solved. The prisons that are close to reaching full capacity include:

• Wyoming State Penitentiary: A high-security correctional facility in Rawlins, this facility houses men, and has a capacity of 670. All death row inmates are housed in this facility.
• Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp: This “camp” is on state land, near Newcastle, and holds up to 280 male prisoners. It is for offenders under age 25, and inmates work on state programs such as forestry, labor for federal projects, and firefighting.
• Wyoming Honor Farm: Commonly called the “State Penitentiary Farm,” this prison houses about 280 inmates. Every inmate is required to work, whether in farming, construction, forestry, welding, or on community projects.
• Wyoming Women’s Center: Women who have been convicted of a serious offense can expect to spend time in this facility, which also houses all women on death row. The prison can hold about 290 women, who are expected to work while serving time.
• Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution: This is the main intake and assessment center for male inmates who are not sentenced to death.

Prison Reform – It’s Been a Long Time Coming in Wyoming

The Wyoming legislature has passed several reforms that could reduce prison time. The number of prisoners serving time in the state is reaching an unmanageable number, and the incarceration rates are becoming a serious problem.

Detention rates are getting lower in other states, but Wyoming is completely out-of-step. The state incarceration rate is moving the wrong direction and is now higher than the national average. The Department of Corrections is predicting the prisons will reach 99% capacity within months.

Caught in the Criminal Justice System?

If you are under investigation or charged with a criminal offense, you are in danger. The Public Defender’s Office is in crisis, overloaded, and may be unable to give you the help you deserve. You cannot assume you will get a short sentence, or be treated with mercy. You are innocent until proven guilty – but you won’t feel that way. As soon as you fall into the hands of law enforcement, you are at risk of facing a long period of incarceration. Don’t take chances – call (307) 257-7800 today and speak with our team at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C.