Gov. Mike Easley turned the tables, or at least who was sitting at them, Monday night.

Easley, First Lady Mary Easley and their son, Michael, served dinner to the about 30 inmates who work at the executive mansion tending to the garden, cleaning or serving on the kitchen and waiting staff.

Former inmates who previously worked at the mansion and now are paroled also were welcomed back as alumni.

"It's a chance for us to say thanks to them," said Easley, who leaves office next month after eight years.

And how did he do as a waiter?

"I'm best on (serving) the tea," he said. "The ice cream slides off the cake when I serve dessert."

Some of the state prison system's most expensive inmates — those who are terminally ill or totally disabled — could soon be released to spend the rest of their days at home or in health care facilities.

Gov. Mike Easley on Tuesday signed into law legislation that creates a path for these dying and disabled patients to be released before their sentences are completed, so long as they have an appropriate care plan. The law took effect with his signature.

The move could free up as many as 160 beds a year in a state prison system that is at maximum capacity. Several hundred newly convicted felons are being held in county jails until prison beds open up.

Inmates would have to ask Correction Department officials for the early release. Those convicted of serious crimes such as murder or rape would not be eligible. If an infirm inmate became able-bodied after release, he or she would have to return to prison.

Infirm inmates cost the state far more than other inmates because of their health care requirements. Correction officials said a sampling of 20 such inmates showed an average cost of $87,000 per year.

The law is one of two bills sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat, to help reduce a prison population that is expected to climb past 40,000 next year. A second bill allowing illegal immigrants serving time for some nonviolent crimes to be released for deportation could be taken up by the full Senate next week.

Correction: A previous version of this post misstated when the full Senate could take up the bill. 

Legislation that could free up 160 beds in an overburdened prison system has cleared the state legislature and awaits Gov. Mike Easley's signature.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand's bill allows for the early release of terminally ill, geriatric or seriously disabled inmates who have been determined to not be a threat to society. These are some of the most expensive inmates in the state's prisons because of their health care costs, Dan Kane reports.

The legislation cleared the Senate today by a 44 to 1 vote. The House had approved the legislation earlier this week.

The bill would allow inmates and their families could petition correction officials to be considered for release.

Those convicted of serious crimes, such as murder or rape, would not be eligible. Those inmates whose health improved such that they became able bodied would be returned to prison.

The Correction department and the state parole commission would have to approve the releases.

The state's prison population is above capacity, forcing county jails to hold onto sentenced inmates until space can be found. Lawmakers are trying to find ways to free up beds. Another bill filed by Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat, would release some nonviolent illegal immigrants to federal immigration officials for deportation, a move that could free up another 100 to 150 beds.

The N.C. House overwhelmingly passed legislation today that could lead to the release of roughly 160 inmates who are terminally ill or too infirm to be a threat to the public.

Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, urged support of the legislation because it would free up prison beds for "younger, more violent folks" and would allow the infirm inmates to be in a more therapeutic setting, Dan Kane reports.

The state prison system is currently at maximum capacity and lawmakers are looking for ways to avoid building more facilities.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat, filed the legislation last year. It passed the Senate overwhelmingly, but that chamber will need to cast a second vote after the House made some changes to Rand's bill.

If the bill becomes law, it would save the prison system the cost of taking care of some of its most expensive inmates because of their health care needs.

Inmates who had committed serious violent crimes such as rape and murder would not be eligible for the early release. Any inmates released whose health improves to the point that they are able-bodied would have to be returned to prison.

Legislation that may move some of the most expensive inmates out of state prisons -- those considered so infirm they are no longer a threat to society -- could come up for a vote in the state House next week.

A House judiciary committee unanimously approved legislation today that creates a means for the release of inmates who are geriatric, terminally ill or are permanently and totally disabled, reports Dan Kane.

Prison officials estimate about 160 inmates would be eligible for release if the legislation becomes law.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand's legislation overwhelmingly passed the state Senate last session. Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat and chairman of the House judiciary committee, said she wanted the Correction Department and health care providers to look at the legislation during the interim before she took it up.

Ross said today that she is satisfied that the legislation protects the public, saves the state money and makes sure that those released from prisons are provided adequate care.

"It's good legislation on a number of levels," Ross said. "First of all, it frees up prison beds for younger, violent offenders."

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State lawmakers showed little interest today in avoiding another big prison construction bill this session.

In fact, they laughed when Rep. Ronnie Sutton, a Pembroke Democrat, asked whether they would look at legislation that spends more on prevention and less on incarceration, reports Dan Kane.

"Is there anyone that thinks we're going to change our mode of operation?" Sutton asked, after lawmakers listened to a report of options to deal with a rapidly growing prison population.

Today, the state prison system is again out of space. Prisons Director Boyd Bennett said he has sent notice to county jails that they will have to hold convicted and sentenced inmates until a new 1,500 bed prison opens up in Columbus County at the end of summer.

The prison, though, is only a temporary fix. Projections show that the system could be 1,800 inmates over capacity by 2012.

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