Brown Discusses Prison Realignment
Governor Brown pledged “maximum state support” as local officials begin California’s historic realignment to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s prison-reduction order.
Brown was Tuesday’s KVML “Newsmaker of the Day”.
“The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered California to reduce its prison population without delay and realignment is the most viable plan to comply with the Court’s order – it ensures that the most dangerous offenders serve their full sentences in state prison,” Brown said.
“Today I am pledging maximum state support to local officials: full funding, flexibility to use local solutions, and a future ballot measure guaranteeing continuous funding. We can’t overturn the Supreme Court’s decision, but we can work together to fix our broken system and protect public safety,” Brown added.
State and local officials have worked together for months preparing for the transfer to local government of funds and a range of responsibilities, including supervising parolees, managing lower-level offenders, and providing mental health, substance abuse, and child protective services.
In January 2010, a Three-Judge Court ordered the state to reduce the inmate population in its 33 adult prisons to 137.5 percent of design capacity. The Three-Judge Court’s order was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2011. As a result, the State is mandated to lower its prison population by approximately 30,000 inmates by June 27, 2013.
The budget and legislation Governor Brown signed in June provide the legal framework for realignment and allocations of revenue to counties for their new responsibilities. The total funding provided to the counties this year will be $5.6 billion, and it is expected to grow to $6.8 billion by 2014.
The “Newsmaker of the Day” is heard each weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47am.
Written by mark@mlode.com
