Twenty prisoners in prisons across the state originally sentenced to life in prison will not be released Oct. 29 as planned. While none of the prisoners are in Central Prison located less than a mile away, Blair Gaskill, freshman in First Year College, said she was worried about the inmates being released, becoming a danger to communities, and potentially coming on campus. 

“I felt that my safety would be at risk because these murders and rapists are allowed to be free, and having them just down the road could be dangerous,” she said. 

According to a press release posted on the Governor’s website Governor Perdue said her legal counsel will coordinate with the Department of Correction to discuss the court case and a plan to meet with officials who oversaw the application of those behavior credits during the 1980s. Her concern is whether or not the General Assembly intended for the DOC to have the authority to cut sentences in this manner.

“Mr. Bowden’s case is in the process of being sent back to the trial court to recalculate his sentence. These issues can be resolved by the courts,” she said. 

Campus Police said they were not planning to vamp up security upon their release,” she said. 

Campus Police Director Tom Younce said he did not see the reason to add security.  

“We have provided the officers with pictures of the offenders, but beyond that there are no extra precautions being taken,” he said. 

Josh Murray, freshman in biomedical engineering, said the precautions that were being taken are fine. 

“I’m not really worried about [the prisoners]. If I saw someone older, looking like they just got out of prison, walking around, I would notice them. What’s being done is fine,” he said. 

Thursday, in a decision reflecting public outcry, Perdue issued a statement that she would not allow the Correctional Department to use legislative authority to release inmates from life in prison. She said she was appalled releasing prisoners after half their intended sentence was even an option.

“Like most of my fellow North Carolinians, I believe life should mean life, and even if a life sentence is defined as 80 years, getting out after only 35 is simply unacceptable,” her release said.

Central Prison Public Affairs Spokesperson Keith Acree said the inmates’ received their life sentences between 1974 and 1978, when a life sentence was 80 years, and are eligible for good- behavior early release. They would have had recalculated sentences to allow them to be released.  

“We looked up all the inmates who were sentenced during those four years and have applied the law to their sentence, factored in any infractions while in prison and if their new release date has passed then we will set them up for release,” he said. 

Acree said 120 inmates were also going to be affected under the court decision. They had been notified of their eventual release.

“We’re still recalculating many inmates’ records, but for many even with the reduced sentence it will not be soon enough. If they have several life sentences they will die in here, or if someone has lots of infractions while in prison that will likely keep them here,” he said. 

The prisoners would have been released to family homes or friends. Each one had a readjustment plan, according to Acree.  

“Only two will be going to half-way houses, the others had plans to go to family or friends across the state,” he said