Politics & Government

State Senator Proposes Moratorium To Delay Woodmansee Release

State Senator Dawson Hodgson (R- Dist. 35) has proposed a moratorium on good behavior credit for violent offenders like Michael Woodmansee.

Another state senator has entered the fight to keep convicted murderer  behind bars. State Senator Dawson Hodgson (R- Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich and Warwick) has presented legislation proposing an immediate moratorium on good behavior credit for violent offenders, such as Woodmansee.

If passed, the bill would halt the dispensing of good behavior credits to prisoners serving more than 10 years and delay Woodmansee's release.

"In the three weeks since it was first reported that he would be released early from prison, Michael Woodmansee has continued to accrue credits under the 'good time' law," Hodgson, a former criminal prosecutor with the attorney general's office, said in a press release Friday morning. "Since March 6, approximately seven-and-a-half more days have been taken off his prison sentence. If swiftly passed, this legislation will delay Woodmansee's release an additional 40 days, allowing the governor and attorney general greater opportunity to review civil commitment options to keep Woodmansee away from the community."

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Woodmansee is serving a 40-year sentence after his conviction in 1983 for killing five-year-old Jason Foreman of South Kingstown. Due to good behavior credits, Woodmansee will only serve 28 years of the 40-year sentence.

According to the release, the bill's sponsors are looking to expedite its passage and will seek immediate consideration by the General Assembly and Governor Lincoln Chafee.

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