releasing low-risk prisoners

The Los Angeles Times leads with the impact of those cuts in aid to states, which are facing a collective $47.4 billion shortfall this year and $84.3 billion in 2010. On a state-by-state basis, the gaps are often breathtaking in size: Nevada's amounts to 38 percent of its general fund, while Washington's governor made a no-new-taxes pledge in her tough reelection campaign, leaving few options to fill that state's hole besides closing state parks, releasing low-risk prisoners, and "shredding" the state's generous social service programs.

Definition

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release (MAKE FREE) Show phonetics
verb [T]
1 to give freedom or free movement to someone or something:
He was released from prison after serving two years of a five-year sentence.
She was arrested for shoplifting but was released on bail (= after paying a sum of money to the law court).
FIGURATIVE The operation released him from years of pain.

2 to move a device from a fixed position to allow it to move freely:
He released the handbrake and the car jumped forwards.

3 to fire a bomb or a missile, or to allow it to fall:
The plane released its bombs at 10 000 feet.

4 to allow a substance to flow out from somewhere:
Coal power stations release sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere.
Hormones are released from glands into the bloodstream.

5 to express a feeling which you have been trying not to show:
He punched the pillow in an effort to release his anger.

release Show phonetics
noun
1 [S or U] when someone is allowed to leave prison, etc:
Her early release from prison led to a demonstration.

2 [U] when something flows out from somewhere:
The accident caused the release of radioactivity into the atmosphere.

re・lease

━━ n., vt. 解放（する）, 釈放（する） ((from)); 息抜き; 放す, 解除（する） ((from)); （ガスの）放出; （爆弾）投下; （感情の）吐露; 【法】（権利）放棄（する）, 譲渡（する） ((to)); 釈放命令（書）; 【機】解除装置, （カメラの）開閉装置; 公演［出版，販売］（する）; 公表する; 【映】封切（する）; 新発売のレコード［ビデオなど］, 封切り映画; ＝press release.
on (general) release　（映画が）一般公開されて（いる）.
release number　【コンピュータ】リリース番号.
re・leas・er　━━ n. 【生物】リリーサー, 解発因 ((他の動物に特定の行動を開始させる，ある動物の特性)).
release version　【コンピュータ】リリース・バージョン.
releasing factor　【生化】ホルモン放出因子 （releasing hormone）.

3 [S or U] a feeling that you are free from something unpleasant:
I noticed a release of tension when he left the room.
After years of suffering, his death came as a merciful release.