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His Return To Prison Prompts Calls For Sentencing Reform

1A : His Return To Prison Prompts Calls For Sentencing Reform Image

Matthew Charles was told he didn’t qualify for early release, even though he had already been released.

JULIETA MARTINELLI/WPLN

Matthew Charles was released early from prison in 2016, after serving 21 years of a 35-year sentence. But on May 14, he was sent back to prison. Federal officials said that Charles shouldn't have qualified for early release, even though he's been incarcerated for almost half his life. Now his case has gone viral — will it make a difference? | Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station at donate.npr.org/1A and subscribe to our podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1a.

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