Growing pains' for revamped prison system

[Joanne98]

Growing pains' for revamped prison system
CONFUSION OVER MANAGEMENT ROLES CITED SINCE REORGANIZATION
By Don Thompson
Associated Press
Article Launched: 03/17/2007 01:39:34 AM PDT

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's reorganization of the state prison system has contributed to confusion over management and responsibilities within the troubled agency, a top corrections official said this week.

Schwarzenegger promised increased efficiency when he convinced state lawmakers to combine the former Department of Corrections, the California Youth Authority and the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency into a single department.

The reorganization, which resulted in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, took effect in July 2005.

But since then, it has blurred management roles, Corrections Undersecretary Kingston Prunty told a Senate oversight committee Thursday. That is true not only at the department's headquarters, but also for prison wardens who used to function largely autonomously like mayors of small cities, he said.

"There are tremendous adjustments that need to be made," Prunty told the committee. "We have struggled with it."

He said confusion over management responsibilities has been compounded since a federal court-appointed receiver took command of inmate medical care in April. Prison wardens and department administrators now must defer to the decisions of the federal receiver.

The courts also oversee employee discipline, juvenile programs, parole, and inmate mental and dental programs. Three federal judges are threatening to cap the inmate population or release some prisoners

early unless the state relieves severe overcrowding by June
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_5459885

They could release thousands of prisoners but everybody is afraid of the Prison Guard Union. NON-violent drug offenders, aging non-violent prisoners. The prison system is a total wreak. It's an embarressment to this country and it's going to get used by our enemies to show what an evil country this is. I figure when leaders like Chavez start citing the cruel way America treats it's own people that Washington will decide to give this shit up.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. I thought the repukes...

Had nothing but sneering contempt for unions. What gives?

[Joanne98]

2. I guess the "prison guards" are an exception. For now anyway.,.

I'm sure after they "privatize" the jails, they will get rid of all that union stuff.