Since the launching of AB 109 Realignment on October 1, 2011, there have been many debates regarding the review of the program’s success…or not. It appears that the California State Prisons have shifted their overcrowding problem to the county jail levels, which are totally unprepared for the massive influx of inmates and in a quandary as to how to handle this problem sufficiently.
Funding for expansion of many county facilities’ throughout the state that was granted by the government, could be halted to take a whole new approach to the realignment program and the problems they’re realizing.
The problems sited and proposals suggested include:
- Taking back control of the system from the federal courts.
- Close the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco (1200 employees could lose their jobs and 3900 inmates will need to transferred elsewhere).
- End contracts with out-of-state prisons and return 9,500 inmates to California by 2016.
- Eliminate about 6,400 jobs.
- Halt most of the prison-expansion programs, saving $4.1 billion in building costs.
It sounds good in theory but what impact will it really have on the prison system and the California‘unemployment rate’? That remains to be seen but this could create more problems at another level.
One of the main reasons realignment was instituted was due to lawsuits filed by inmates in regard to the medical, mental health and dental care they felt they were not properly receiving. This is when the federal courts decided to step in to take control of these issues to avoid further law suits.
While this is a very important issue within our prison system today, other issues that have come to the surface, as the result of the realignment program, seen to have added more problems to the mix by creating a chaotic environment throughout the state and local jails…Not to mention the huge increase in expenses for the program to function as intended, and subsequently the impact on taxpayers.
The ultimate goal of these new proposals would be a significant cost savings (in the billions over the next few years) allowing the state to offer new rehabilitation programs and improve educational opportunities for inmates. While I agree with this potential outcome, many oppose this idea saying that these programs never work. I guess this too remains to be seen.
Another question arises when you think about how the prison system can be improved with staffing cuts happening simultaneously with prisons planning to transfer thousands of maximum-security inmates to lower-level facilities. I see more chaos in the making.
In light of all these problems, we need to remember that in the 1970’s California prisons were considered the model for the nation and the world. So what happened? Has there been a huge increase in crime throughout the state in the last 42 years? Statistics have shown a decrease in crime since 2010. This tells me we have too many prisoners with long-term sentences in our prisons and more non-violent offenders who have been added to the system. How do we reach a stable balance and still protect public safety?
I’d like to hear your thoughts on this topic. Do you think there are solutions to this ongoing problem?