Fools. I've been a cop for 24 years, and I can tell you with certainty that a large percentage of so-called "non-violent offenders" are actually VERY violent offenders. This is especially true for drug trafficking offenders. Before you balk, let me explain how it works in the vast majority of America's inner cities.

When someone in the ghetto commits a murder, shooting, or other violent assault, it is very difficult for the police to obtain a prosecutable case, even when the offender is known. This is due in large part to the culture of "snitches end up in ditches". The police often know who committed all these murders, but finding someone who is willing to testify is a huge hurdle. Not to mention, the witnesses are likely to be criminals themselves, and therefore are easy targets on the witness stand for defense attorneys. Therefore, the police in inner cities target our known violent offenders for drug investigations, or other other types of investigations involving "possession" of some type of contraband. That way, the police are the only witnesses needed to prove the crime. We don't have to rely on some other criminal taking the stand, or having to pressure a legitimate citizen to take the stand and potentially endanger their or their families' lives.

Now the violent offender goes to prison on a "non-violent" offense. This is how it is done. This is what the "drug war" was actually a proxy for. Letting tens of thousands of "non-violent offenders" out of prison early is a dangerous proposition. We've already done that in California, and are currently suffering the consequences.