GOVERNOR BROWN, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ANNOUNCE PRISON REFORM AGREEMENT
September 09, 2013
Sacramento, CA—Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) released the following statement in response to legislative agreement to end the federal litigation over California’s prison overcrowding crisis.
“I am pleased that a durable and meaningful agreement on prison reform was reached by the Governor and the legislative leaders that did not include early release. This two-part solution seeks an extension of time in order to significantly reduce recidivism with evidence-based programs that incentivize counties to expand proven rehabilitation, drug and mental health treatment programs for criminal offenders. This route is the most prudent use of the taxpayers’ money. I long-held the belief that we need a plan that continues to make public safety our first priority and ensures no early release; and a plan that uses cost-effective, evidence-based solutions to strike at the core of repeat offenders ill-equipped to become productive members of our communities,” said Correa.
Under the agreement, SB 105 and AB 84 will be amended to reflect the following:
• Authorizes up to $315 million in immediate in-state and out-of-state capacity.
• Lays the foundation for longer-term changes to the criminal justice system, in collaboration with the Legislature and stakeholders.
• Strengthens existing local efforts (SB 678) to manage offenders by increasing the amount of funding that county probation departments receive if they can serve felony probationers locally and keep them from coming to prison.
• Requires that if the court modifies the order in a way that reduces the cost of compliance, the first $75 million in savings will go to reducing recidivism.
Video of the press conference can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/4l5Ktu90C1I
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