Calif. inmate switch puts pressure on county jails

California counties are finding the changing environment with prison realignment a challenge:

The key is to get sheriffs to address overcrowding with a different mindset, said Allen Hopper, an ACLU attorney who authored a report on the realignment law. 

"They say, 'We've got too many people in our jails. What are we supposed to do?' Well, what you're supposed to do is take a look at the people who are in your jails ... and really look at alternatives to incarceration," he said.  

Many local jails are already adjusting, said Curtis Hill, a legislative representative for the California State Sheriff's Association. 

"You see counties that are realizing under realignment that if you don't embrace what the governor's policy is — and that is to provide for alternative forms of custody for this population — then you're going to be out of money and your jail is going to be jam-packed," he said. "It's a new normal."

More by Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press

California prison overhaul costs criticized

The Legislative Analyst's Office issued a report criticizing the Brown administration's plan to overhaul California's prison system. Although the report said the plan merits consideration," it said the state will end up facing high costs despite decreasing prison capacity.

The prison system is under intense scrutiny as it works to meet court-ordered benchmarks on reducing overcrowding and improving inmate healthcare. The court-appointed receiver who controls the prison medical system has said renovating facilities is a crucial next step, but the Legislative Analyst's Office questioned whether it's necessary.

CDCR has responded that the new construction will lower costs over the long run, and is mandated by court orders.

More at the Los Angeles Times.

Career criminal bill fails in committee

An attempt to change California's prison realignment effort has been killed in committee. SB 1435, intorduced by State Senator Sharon Runner, would have sent criminals with a longer felony record to state prison. Under the realignment program that started last fall, those sentenced to three years or less that did not have a history of violent or sexual crime would be incarcerated locally.

Since AB 109 took effect Oct. 1, San Bernardino County has convicted 1,660 felons who would have gone to state prison prior to realignment but were instead sentenced to county jail, according to Christopher Lee, spokesman for the District Attorney’s office. 

SB 1435 would have required that defendants who were convicted of a felony and had three or more prior felony convictions be sent to state prison.

The bill failed 4-3 in the Senate public safety committee. More information is available at the Victorville Daily Press.

Changes in California Prisons Announced

State officials announced on Monday (3/23) major changes in the California prison system. The proposals would bring the state system nearly into compliance with Federal court orders by next summer.

If state lawmakers and federal judges sign off on the proposals, California's long-troubled prison system would look significantly different by 2016 — smaller, cheaper and more autonomous. 

"It's a massive change," said Matthew Cate, secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, touting the plan at a Capitol news conference. 

Inmate numbers are already shrinking as low-level offenders are kept in local jails rather than sent to state prisons, part of officials' effort to comply with federal judges' orders. But prisons still weigh heavily on California's bursting budget, increasing from 3% of general-fund spending just over three decades ago to a proposed 9.4% in the next fiscal year. 

If the new plan is successful, prisons will fall to 7.5% of spending in the 2015-16 budget. 

"California is finally getting its prison costs under control and taking the necessary steps to meet federal court mandates," Gov. Jerry Brown said in a statement Monday

. More from Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times.

PSP's try to find the straight and narrow way

The new "non-violent, non-sexual" parolees mow being released to local supervision are termed "post-release supervised persons" or PSP's. Many are trying to find a new life outside:

Arnold Ruiz was once the quintessential gang member, complete with shaved head, tattoos, and no fewer than 13 felonies on his rap sheet.

Released in January after spending almost half of his 38 years in and out of state prison for drug offenses, he is now determined to turn his life around.

"I'm doing whatever it takes to reinvent myself," Ruiz said, noting he has been sober for two years and has removed most of the gang insignia from his face and neck.

"I'm trying to do good but I'm nervous," he added. "I've been a failure all my life, and I'm scared of success."

It has been a rough road for counties building new programs, and there have been missteps, and successes. From the Long Beach Post-Telegram.