They Thought They Were Leaving Prison Early. Then They Weren't. - Portland Mercury

"“I didn't know why my sentence was reduced, but I wasn't going to argue,” he said. “It was a godsend.” The reduction stemmed from an Oregon Supreme Court ruling that found judges in Oregon “may grant” defendants credit for the time they served in jail before being sentenced."

"Sanchez had spent roughly five months in jail awaiting his trial, where he received two consecutive sentences. Per the Oregon Department of Corrections' calculations, which were based on guidance from the Oregon Department of Justice, those five months of time served were subtracted from each of his consecutive sentences, totaling 10 months."

"He was among more than 380 people to see their sentences reduced last summer and fall by ODOC in response to the ruling, with close to 40 people released from prison early. But, after blowback from prosecutors, victim advocacies and other members of the public, the recalculations were paused in November by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek."

"Shortly after, on Nov. 14, the Oregon Department of Justice provided new guidance, prompting a do-over in which ODOC re-reviewed certain sentences. As a result, the department returned 17 freed people to prison. Ten of those people have since won their freedom back through the courts, according to information the ODOC provided to a Prison Journalism Project editor."

Dylan Sanchez received an early release from an Oregon prison, moving his release date from 2030 to 2029 after a sentence reduction. The change followed an Oregon Supreme Court ruling allowing judges to grant defendants credit for time served in jail before sentencing. Sanchez had spent about five months in jail awaiting trial and received two consecutive sentences, which were recalculated so the five months were subtracted from each sentence, totaling 10 months. More than 380 people saw sentence reductions, with close to 40 released early. After public and prosecutorial backlash, Oregon paused recalculations in November. New Oregon Department of Justice guidance led to a do-over, and 17 people were returned to prison, with 10 later winning freedom again through the courts.

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