California Legislature Votes on Early Release for Prison Inmates to Save Money
Will the Inmate Release from Prison Save Money or Cost Lives?
Early Release of Prison Inmates = $1.2 Billion Savings
The Sacramento Bee reports that the inmate release from prison measure could save the cash strapped state as much as $1.2 billion. About 27,300 prison inmates could benefit from the early release program, if the Democratic majority of the California legislature gets its way; assuming that the vote takes place along the party lines, sometimes Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has already expressed his support for the prison release program, and will likely sign it.
Early Release of Infirm, Small Time Crooks Only?
Fear mongers are quick to point to the rash of home invasion robberies that plagued Southern California not too long ago, and vow that an inmate release will herald more of the same. An analysis of the proposed prison release idea, however, shows that the prison inmates, who would benefit from an early release, would be the ill, the infirm, and the elderly. In some cases, they would also include parolees that - on paper - pose little risk for violent acting out. This is where the plan gets murky. Part of the idea is an early release clause that would permit prison inmates to serve the last year of their sentences under house arrest.
Does This Prison Release Hail a Substitute Supervision Scheme?
Housing one prison inmate, according to the California Department of Corrections, costs about $49,000. Los Angeles County shoulders the maximum burden of housing prison inmates; more than 33% live within the county's borders. If the Democrats' proposed prison release program succeeds, prison inmates on this new early release program will once again join the parole system of the state in general and Los Angeles in particular.
Unfortunately, the parole system is not doing well: 51% return as parole violators of which Los Angeles County holds 31.5%. The overwhelming majority is male and convicted of drug or property crimes. It is the latter that lawmakers consider being sufficiently nonviolent and safe to include in their early release and alternative supervision schemes.
What the Future Holds for Los Angeles
Drive through some of the neighborhoods in Los Angeles where the working poor live, and you find the majority of homes barred against intruders. You also notice that there are plentiful vehicles that could potentially quality for the Cash for Clunkers program, were it not for the credit problems of the drivers. It is these Los Angeles neighborhoods - where rents are cheaper and crime activity causes residents to protect themselves against gangbangers - that might see another influx of parolees.
Although an early release of elderly prison inmates and low level offenders - on paper - sounds like a great money saving step, this inmate release from prison could actually lead to an increase in crimes, and thereby the need for more costly police work, incarceration, and adjudication.
Sources
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2117462.html; http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Divisions_Boards/Adult_Operations/docs/Fourth_Quarter_2008_Facts_and_Figures.pdf
Published by Sylvia Cochran - Featured Contributor in Automotive, Politics, Travel and Lifestyle
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37 Comments
Post a CommentIs there an early release program in the future for inmates who committed a crime when they were a teenager, and have served 15 years or more, and are in their mid-thirties, and a completely different person now?
I thought there was supposed to be a panel of judges that would rule on the early release of prisoners in California sometime in October. Any news on this?
I THINK THIS COURT SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING IS JUST HELLA WRONGE THEY SENTENCED MY BROTHER INLAW FOR 31 YEARS IN PRISON BECAUSE HE ROBBED SOMEBADY YEAH ITS WRONGE BUT DONT TAKE AWAY SOMEBODYS WHOLE LIKE FOR SOMETHING THATS SO SMALL !!!! HE COULD OF KILLED SOMEBODY WITH THE SENTENCE HE GOT HE DIDNT DESIRE TO GET SENTENCED LIKE THAT THEY SCREWED HIM OVER BADLY AND THATS SO FREAKEN SAD!!!!
My husband was just sentenced to 16 months for not completing prop 36 3yrs ago. During the past 3 years he moved to N. California, got me off of a 24 yr addiction to meth & maintained a job. We couldn't keep looking ovcer our shoulders knowing he had a warrant so we did manage to get his parole transfered up North but when he went into sheriffs to register as a drug offender a probation warrant came up. No one would listen (judge, DA even his PD) to all the GOOD he had done over the past 3 years. They told him to be grateful it wasn't 3-5 years. Sad but true now my unemployment if at an end with no work in site and the one that had a job (still does his employer is holding his position because he is a good person) is forced to live in awful contions all because he what? got clean, got his wife clean, was living a good clean life. Thanks to our justice system. BRAVO way to get the bad guy
success. I said to myself "By the time I turned 23 I would be making at least $25 an hour and a lot more later on!" I thought my life was great, I had my future planned out which involved buying a house next year. One day, one thing lead to another and thanks to my past, what seemed like a minuscule shoplift incident ended in a second strike and lead me to prison. Now by the time I'm 23 I'm still going be in prison. I lost everything I worked so hard for, and even though I know I could lecture myself of what I did was stupid and immature, never do it again, continue the great opportunity at life god gave me with the career to support my loved ones financially, physically and emotionally, the court only sees me as what's on paper. Which apparently states that I'm a menace that doesn't deserve another chance. I'm out on bail, returned to work and I'm contributing to the economy, but deep inside I know that my plans and goals are ruined. I'm not a violent person despite of my record. It
When I was in middle school I was a honor student full of potential. Growing up my young perception of what was "cool" was what was around me. I was easily influenced by my surroundings and a single change of address changed my fate . Even though I achieved the highest CAHSEE score in my class. By the time I turned 17, I was charged with a robbery I didn't commit and given a strike. Despite my set back I was determined to be successful but, my felony washed away my dreams of being a fire fighter, and even though I qualified my probation prevented me from entering the military at age 18. Despite my obstacles I managed to get away from the corrupt by becoming more mature and independent. I flourished in a "young adults at risk " program despite most of their still "young perceptions" and became a roll model and leader. My desire to success overgrew my childish want to fit in. I managed to start a career in a apprenticeship program where I finally got a chance to success. I said to
The prison systems in CA (and much of the US) are horrendous! I worked as a nurse there and was so depressed by the conditions I left after 6months. Our whole legal system is sad. DA don't care who they throw away as long as they can close their cases. And a few are real hard asses, no compassion, no understanding and no point in reasoning with them. Judges can are the same. As long as we as a nation use corporations to build prisons as for-profit entities and spend more on inmates per year than we do on education per students...I don't need to go on. God help you if you are EVER in trouble with the legal system. Get a good lawyer, beg, borrow, plead, mortgage your house if you have to because they will throw the book at you. And I agree with the people on the posts here. If it's non-violent, parole violations/infirm/sick inmates, let them go home! Monitor them at home with ankle bracelets or let them serve weekends. That's a hell of a lot cheaper than spending $50K a year
I BELIEVE INMATES FOR PETTY THEFT-ROBBERY-THEFT AND ANY TYPE OF SMALL CRIMES INCLUDING POSSESSION-UNDER INFLUENCE ETC.. SHOULD BE RELEASED. AS LONG AS THERE WS NO VIOLENCE- NO WEAPONS ETC.. WHY KEEP PAYING TO HAVE THEM THERE? LET THEM GO HOME TO THIER WIVES AND CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM. IF THEY HAVE A REALLY BAD DRUG PROBLEM..HEY THESE ARE OUR PEOPLE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!!! GET THEM HELP LIKE YOU GET HELP FOR PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. STOP JUDGING ADDICTS AND HELP THEM. EVERY FAMILY HAS PROBLEMS AND SOMEONE IN THIER FAMILY THAT HAS A PROBLEM. GET HELP AND RELEASE THE NON VIOLENT CRIMINALS. DONT JUDGE BY PASS; LOOK AT RECENT CHARGE- CHECK THE LAST YEAR OF THIER LIFE AND HOW THEY DID. IF THESE PEOPLE WERE DOING GOOD UP UNTIL THIS CRIME CONSIDER OUR STATE OF ECONOMICS. PEOPLE STEAL TO FEED THIER FAMILIES; TO GET THEM CLOTHES ETC.. IF IT WAS A SMALL NON VIOLENT CRIME LET THEM OUT AND FOCUS ON HOW TO FIX THIS DAMN BUDGET. BRING IN THE AMNESTY FOR THOSE ILLEGAS THAT ARE GOOD U
MY HUSBAND IS IN FOR A SALES CHARGE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING HE CAN DO TO GET AN EARLY RELEASE...ALSO HOW CAN HE AVOID BEING TRANSFERRED OUT OF STATE? IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THESE QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL ME AT MEANIRENE713@YAHOO.COM
HOW ABOUT THIS ONE MY HUSBAND DID A PERFECT PAROLE DISCHARGED HIS # AND 5YRS LATER GOT MIX UP WITH THE WRONG PERSON STARTED USING DRUGS GOT CAUGHT FOR POSS.NOT EVEN ENOUGHT TO TEST BUT BECAUSE OF HIS PASS 20YRS PRIOR THEY WANTED TO GIVE HIM 19 YRSAND HIS CHARGE IS A MISTORMINOR. HE SHOULD OF BEEN OFFERD A PROGRAM BUT INSTEAD 6YRS I PRAY FOR THE EARLY RELEASE