Are they rapists?
By the way, releasing 6,000 nonviolent offenders would conservatively probably save the taxpayers around $200,000,000 a year. It would even be more than that if they get out, get a job, and start supporting their families instead of being dependent on some kind of public assistance.
So, here's the bottom line. Figure out what the hell you want. If you want them to stay in prison, then don't bellyache about the cost. If you want to cut the cost of incarcerating nonviolent offenders, then you have to embrace solutions other than simply locking people up for nonviolent drug offenses.
Pick one!
I've never complained about the cost to keep criminals in prison. I don't think there is anybody on the right that lodged such a complaint either.
What I want is the rule of law. We have laws, and if you break them, you must pay the penalty. If you disagree with our laws, then change them, but don't complain when your daughter comes home and falls on the floor because she ran into a pusher that got her hooked on dope.
And this "nonviolent" thing is such a misnomer. Many of these convicts are in prison for other things besides using dope. They've had a violent past--maybe not for the charge they were sent to prison for, but still violent. Drug trade is violent by nature. A user could get gunned down buying dope from somebody that just wants to rip him or her off, and if you're selling dope, violence is part of the game. And remember, many of these prisoners plead down to a lesser charge of using because the prosecutor found it more constructive to drop a dope dealing charge to give the accused some time in prison.
But if you want to maintain your stance that these prisoners are non-violent, then let me ask: would you accept it if Obama released all 6,000 of these offenders in your neighborhood?