Minor Computer Flaw Frees State Prisoners

Ruvim writes "A Michigan State audit shows a software glitch let some prisoners get out early. From the article: 'The audit report shows errors in the release dates of 23 prisoners between October 2003 and March 2005. Some were let out early, while others were let out late... A flaw in computer programming caused State jails to release 8 prisoners anywhere from 39-161 days early, prisoners who were doing time for everything from embezzlement and drugs to bad check writing.'"

If I had to code such thing...

[mi]

I too would be tempted to, say, compare a hash of the prisoner's name with that of mine...

Consolation.

[Seumas]

On the bright side, they'll be getting their free subsidized digital television converter boxes any day now. Welcome to freedom, gentlemen!

It must have been Linux

[Omnieiunium]

because it is free!!!!

I am sorry. Very sorry.

now if only.....

[dclaw]

they would end my probation early!

Obligatory Remix

[BandwidthHog]

Microsoft: Minor Computer Flaws Imprison Free States

Re:Gracious Me!

[Anonymous Coward]

not ony that but bad check writing holy hell shit! It's not something minor like rape or murder but bad check writing! these guys are just a step below copyright violators!

Nice to see that the priorities there in the states are for money first and then real crime second.

"jake here murdered 23 people, raped 100 women and maimed another 1000 people over the past year.. He's a good old boy but we got his ass when he crossed the line and wrote a bad check trying to buy a britteny spears CD he was going to pirate into his mp3 player!

Hopefully we can have him executed for crimes against financials! How dare he cross the rich of this land!

Programmer was obviously just having some fun with

[Corun]

if((rand() % 2) == 0) sentence -= (rand() % 123 + 39); Either that or memory corruption. I'd bet on the former :-D

Re:Minor glitch ?

[TheGavster]

If I were the guys released late, I'd definately get incarcerated in another jurisdiction next time ... maybe someplace with the early release bug instead.

When the nuke password...

[a_greer2005]

is password

Re:Terrible representative

[Anonymous Coward]

Learn to spell 'cheque' you fag. Who voted this guy in?

No, he really meant bad check writers. They wrote the system that checks the release date.

Re:Minor Flaw?

[Anonymous Coward]

Using .NET

Re:Gracious Me!

[Jesus_666]

Why, the American legal system certainly does a good job deterring me from ever moving there...

Re:hmmm

[drooling-dog]

I'm sure he was referring to people who steal $100 or less, or can't afford bail. If you grab $10 million or more, you're not a criminal, you're a prospective campaign contributor...

Re:Terrible representative

[commodoresloat]

No, he really meant bad check writers.

No; he really meant bad Czech writers. It was a reference to Tedd Sallay and Josef Simanek.

This would suck...

[brian0918]

"Finally, my parole hearing has come and I'm ready to see my family again!"

"No, actually, it says here that you're scheduled for execution. Any last requests?"

Re:Gracious Me!

[HoboMaster]

Actually, moral stewardship is a Calvinistic holdover from the Puritans who came to America. The whole "we need to make sure everyone else does the right thing" way of thinking is what our country was founded on. Yay Puritanism! Today's history lesson brought to you by the letters W, T, and F.

Wow...

[TheLink]

Talk about free software :).