Proposed California Prison Overhaul Finds Opposition
Following a Federal order, Governor Jerry Brown has recently announced a realignment program for the inmates of California prisons. According to the Supreme Court, California prisons were overcrowded, which has resulted in a decline in the quality of medical care provided for the inmates. Under these circumstances, there is no choice but to reduce the number of inmates by adopting various means and methods.
Responding to this judgment of the Supreme Court, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed the realignment plan. According to this plan, inmates will be sent to the counties, where they will be under house arrest or undergo various treatment and rehabilitation programs in addition, some of which will be within the county prison. The Governor believes that by doing so, prison population will shrink and actual rehabilitation will occur.
According to Jerry Brown and the supporters of this plan, rehabilitation is essential for reducing crime rate in the long run. These supporters believe that rehabilitation occurs only in the counties and not in the prisons, where there are too many inmates to concentrate upon. Proponents of this plan believe that this is the biggest ever criminal justice reform happening in the state, which should be accepted with open arms.
According to the analysis of the Governor, the realignment will lead to a reduction of nearly 20,000 inmates by next summer with the number reaching 34,000 by next July. This considerable decrease will ensure that the money is well spent in other areas, especially with regard to rehabilitation of offenders, which in the long run will ensure reduced crime rate.
Since this is a big step, time must be given before anyone passes judgment regarding its success or failure. Proponents believe that it is really easy to oppose any step, which is what most opponents as well as the opposition party will do. In fact, according to them, even the smallest crime that happens in the state will now be publicized and used against this move, though such an act should be avoided.
Skeptics, on the other hand, feel that this plan is doomed from the start. What skeptics fear most is the increase in crime rate, caused by the influx of habitual offenders into society. According to the opponents and skeptics, criminals are never rid of their criminal minds and attitude, which could lead to an increase of crime in the state. Moreover, the county police officials state that more police officers will have to be taken off the road to follow these released inmates, which could cause more law and order problems.
Similarly, with the plan calling for counties to set the rules regarding these released inmates, county officials are having nightmares. They believe that the passing of this plan will only result in more questions coming their way, if crime rate were to increase.
With opposition as strong as the support for this plan, only time will tell whether the Governor actually realizes this dream or whether it affects the politics in the state.
Responding to this judgment of the Supreme Court, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed the realignment plan. According to this plan, inmates will be sent to the counties, where they will be under house arrest or undergo various treatment and rehabilitation programs in addition, some of which will be within the county prison. The Governor believes that by doing so, prison population will shrink and actual rehabilitation will occur.
According to Jerry Brown and the supporters of this plan, rehabilitation is essential for reducing crime rate in the long run. These supporters believe that rehabilitation occurs only in the counties and not in the prisons, where there are too many inmates to concentrate upon. Proponents of this plan believe that this is the biggest ever criminal justice reform happening in the state, which should be accepted with open arms.
According to the analysis of the Governor, the realignment will lead to a reduction of nearly 20,000 inmates by next summer with the number reaching 34,000 by next July. This considerable decrease will ensure that the money is well spent in other areas, especially with regard to rehabilitation of offenders, which in the long run will ensure reduced crime rate.
Since this is a big step, time must be given before anyone passes judgment regarding its success or failure. Proponents believe that it is really easy to oppose any step, which is what most opponents as well as the opposition party will do. In fact, according to them, even the smallest crime that happens in the state will now be publicized and used against this move, though such an act should be avoided.
Skeptics, on the other hand, feel that this plan is doomed from the start. What skeptics fear most is the increase in crime rate, caused by the influx of habitual offenders into society. According to the opponents and skeptics, criminals are never rid of their criminal minds and attitude, which could lead to an increase of crime in the state. Moreover, the county police officials state that more police officers will have to be taken off the road to follow these released inmates, which could cause more law and order problems.
Similarly, with the plan calling for counties to set the rules regarding these released inmates, county officials are having nightmares. They believe that the passing of this plan will only result in more questions coming their way, if crime rate were to increase.
With opposition as strong as the support for this plan, only time will tell whether the Governor actually realizes this dream or whether it affects the politics in the state.
Source...