In a surprise to no one, federal judges blasted California officials for the state’s half-hearted plan to relieve prison overcrowding. California’s prisons are so bloated that prisoners are dying from medical neglect.
These are the same prisons facing a $1.2 billion cut from an astronomic budget of nearly $10 billion. When federal judges ordered the state to relieve the cruel and unusual prison conditions caused by overcrowding, it seemed a perfect opportunity to whack the notorious “Golden Gulag.” The state, of course, immediately appealed to the Supreme Court. But even the conservative Supremes refused to let California get off without coming up with a plan.
By reducing the prison population by up to 55,000 over two years, per the judges’ order, California could save money, improve prison conditions, and make some long-overdue policy changes to reduce the state’s toxic addiction to prisons. However, Governor Schwarzenegger’s office, along with California prison officials, submitted a plan to do even less than the bare minimum. The state’s plan would cut the population by about 18,000 over two years. The judges? Not having it.
Oddly enough, the Gov. released a bigger plan earlier this year to cut prison spending and trim the population by as much as 37,000. Even the prison chiefs were on board. But they couldn’t get it through a cowardly, fear-mongering Legislature. Now, with a federal lawsuit addressing violations of prisoners’ constitutional rights, and an ongoing fiscal crisis, why are state leaders dragging their feet?
The state has until November 12 to come up with a satisfactory plan. If they fail, the judges will do it themselves. Californians have waited long enough through the legal maneuvering and political posturing. Our exploding, failing prisons need action now.
One Comment
I am in full agreement with needing to reduce our prison population – but we also need to be aware of all the systems that will effect. There is real concern in certain counties that there are few to none as far as reentry programs for prisoners and support for when they are released. So recidivism rates for those prisoners may be extremely high. The current expungement laws are also a concern. They are very limiting, and with a prison stay on your record, good luck finding gainful employment, which would also lead to recidivism.
With so many social services cut due to the budget crisis, we have to be mindful of the environment we are sending these people into. What health care systems are in place? Where will they find housing in the current housing crisis?
These are the questions we need to begin to focus on so we are ready when California stops dragging their feet and does release tens of thousands of community members back into the streets.