One day after the U.S. Supreme Court gave judges more leeway to impose shorter sentences for crack cocaine offenses, the seven-member commission voted unanimously to make new sentencing guidelines retroactive beginning March 3.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering the early release of more than 20,000 low-risk prison inmates from the nation's largest prison system as a way to save money amid a worsening budget crisis, a newspaper reported Thursday.

Only nonviolent offenders would be eligible, and prisoners considered for the program would have less than 20 months left on their terms, The Sacramento Bee reported on its Web site. Sex offenders would not be included.

The governor's office told The Associated Press that Schwarzenegger had not decided to release inmates early and that it was one of many scenarios being considered as the state seeks to cope with a budget deficit estimated at $10 billion to $14 billion over the next two fiscal years.