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Minor Computer Flaw Frees State Prisoners

Posted by Zonk on from the prisoners-develope-interest-in-coding dept.

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.'"

13 of 268 comments (clear)

  1. If I had to code such thing... by mi · · Score: 2, Funny

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

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  2. Consolation. by Seumas · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  3. It must have been Linux by Omnieiunium · · Score: 4, Funny

    because it is free!!!!

    I am sorry. Very sorry.

  4. now if only..... by dclaw · · Score: 4, Funny

    they would end my probation early!

    --
    feeling lonely? grab a balled up pillow for company
  5. Obligatory Remix by BandwidthHog · · Score: 3, Funny

    Microsoft: Minor Computer Flaws Imprison Free States

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    Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
  6. Programmer was obviously just having some fun with by Corun · · Score: 2, Funny

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

  7. Re:Minor glitch ? by TheGavster · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

    --
    "Because Science" is one step from "Because old book". Try "Because of my experiment testing my falsifiable assertion".
  8. Re:Gracious Me! by Jesus_666 · · Score: 4, Funny

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

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    USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
  9. Re:hmmm by drooling-dog · · Score: 2, Funny

    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...

  10. Re:Terrible representative by commodoresloat · · Score: 4, Funny
    No, he really meant bad check writers.

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

  11. This would suck... by brian0918 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "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?"

  12. Re:Gracious Me! by HoboMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    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.

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    Remember kids, tin foil doesn't work, so use LeadHat.
  13. Wow... by TheLink · · Score: 3, Funny

    Talk about free software :).

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