Calif. budget deal would release 27,000 inmates

[Dos Equis]

I think someone posted something about this a little while back, but this is crazy. 

Calif. budget deal would release 27,000 inmates

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the California budget deal announced last night calls for cutting the prison population by 27,000 inmates.

The move, which is projected to save $1.2 billion during the current fiscal year, would let some inmates finish their sentences at home, reduce parole supervision for the least serious offenders and create incentives for inmates to complete rehabilitation programs. The paper explains:

The plan would grant authority to state corrections officials to allow any inmate with 12 months or less left to serve to complete his or her sentence on home detention, although state officials would not be required to do so. Prison officials could also put any inmate who is over 60 or medically incapacitated on home detention instead of in a prison cell.

The state would use electronic monitoring for inmates serving time at home, and officials estimate that about 6,300 could do time this way.

In addition, inmates who achieve milestones in rehabilitative programs, substance abuse treatment, vocational training or education could receive up to six weeks off their prison terms, although the credit could be forfeited in cases of subsequent bad behavior.
The full Legislature is scheduled to vote on the budget deal Thursday.

Meanwhile, local governments are lining up against the deal, which would take billions from them. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to sue state lawmakers if they seize local redevelopment and highway taxes to help cover the state's $26.3 billion budget deficit. Other local governments are expected to follow suit.

The budget deal also makes deep cuts to education, health and welfare services. Republicans refused to support any tax increases, so Democrats abandoned proposals to raise cigarette taxes $1.50 a pack, increase the vehicle license fee $15 a year or boost taxes on oil extraction. The plan allows offshore oil drilling near Santa Barbara.

In another sign of California's financial troubles, the two biggest state pension funds are reporting $100 billion in losses — about one quarter of their portfolio values.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/07/calif-budget-deal-would-release-27000-inmates.html

[Soul Crusher]

Time for you califonrnians to stock up. 

[Hugo Chavez]

Probably way more than that serving time for drug related non violent offenses from the stupid war on drugs.  This info is a little old so I'm not sure what's changed, but if it hasn't...

Economic Impact of Drug Sentencing on California Families, Communities and Taxpayers oDue to widespread employer antipathy toward ex-convicts, a felony conviction carries a high cost for the individual, the family and the community.

The estimated average lifetime loss of income due to conviction is $82,408.13

The estimated economic damage to communities for California's currently incarcerated non-violent drug offenders is estimated to be $3,571,001,126 in lost income.

To incarcerate 36,711 drug offenders at a cost of $26,000 per year burdens the California budget by over
972.8 million dollars each year.

Increased social support for families of incarcerated drug offenders costs California over $30 million per
year.

http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/archive/latino_fact_sheet.pdf

[Hereford]

How about sending most of them home back across the border?

[George Whorewell]

Although Im a conservative, I am of the mindset that only people who really deserve to be in prison should be in prison. All non-violent drug offenders should be released, all illegals should be deported and nobody should automatically be given life in prison ( the three strikes rule is moronic imo).

Sex offenders, murderers, multiple violent felons, and habitual felons should be in prison. Also I think it stands to reason that terrorists, gang leaders and white collar criminals that ruin peoples lives should be in jail also.

For anyone here who has done time or has a friend or family member that has done time, or has visited a prison-- It is in so many words hell. Not only is it hell, but its expensive as shit to the tax payer.

As long as the 27,000 being released aren't violent felons, murderers, rapists, child molestors or other inmates that would be dangerous to release into public- I have no problem with this measure.

[Hugo Chavez]

How about sending most of them home back across the border?

why?  They'll be back in a week.

[Hereford]

why?  They'll be back in a week.

Then send them to prison.

[Hugo Chavez]

Then send them to prison.

u realise they're not all illegal right?  also the portion of the stats I quoted is not race specific

[Hedgehog]

The release of these prisoners points out a big problem.

Having lots of people in prison hurts the macro economy.

Both directly - these prisoners cost some dough.

But primarily indirectly.

Lots of potential workforce being locked up is just not fiscally sound.

[George Whorewell]

Hedge, that would be true... Except there are several million non-inmate Americans who cant find work. I would think we would want to employ them first?

[Soul Crusher]

Hedge, that would be true... Except there are several million non-inmate Americans who cant find work. I would think we would want to employ them first?

GW - Im still waiting for your list of "lesser conservatives".   

[Hereford]

u realise they're not all illegal right?  also the portion of the stats I quoted is not race specific

They would be illegal if they entered the US without going through the proper channels.

[George Whorewell]

3333- Me and Decker have had an ongoing feud for more than a year. At times it was nasty and personal, but we bring out the best in one another in terms of political debate. I have always been of the opinion that he is probably the most intelligent (albeit wrong on every issue) leftist who posts here and unless he engages me directly, I usually just mock the left wing lunatics rather than debate them.

I dont waste my time on the lesser liberals-- So, I was asking him not to waste time on the lesser conservatives; Not that you or anyone else is a "lesser" conservative-- But just that he knows or should know what my policy is. I was asking for some attention, because quite frankly besides him, there aren't but five brain cells among the other liberals who post here. ( Hugo an exception sometimes- and there are a few others here and there, but very few and far between).

[Soul Crusher]

3333- Me and Decker have had an ongoing feud for more than a year. At times it was nasty and personal, but we bring out the best in one another in terms of political debate. I have always been of the opinion that he is probably the most intelligent (albeit wrong on every issue) leftist who posts here and unless he engages me directly, I usually just mock the left wing lunatics rather than debate them.

I dont waste my time on the lesser liberals-- So, I was asking him not to waste time on the lesser conservatives; Not that you or anyone else is a "lesser" conservative-- But just that he knows or should know what my policy is. I was asking for some attention, because quite frankly besides him, there aren't but five brain cells among the other liberals who post here. ( Hugo an exception sometimes- and there are a few others here and there, but very few and far between).

You mean Blacken700, Lurker, Benny, Mons, don't stimulate your intellectual side with their comments? 

I agree with you about Hugo - he has moments of clarity that wont let me group him in with the rest of the gang.   

[Hugo Chavez]

They would be illegal if they entered the US without going through the proper channels.

lol, no kidding. 

I don't think we're remotely on the same subject.