Major Parole Moves on the Table (Gov. Arnie)

[kskiska]

The governor's ideas, if enacted, would reduce the prison population and save millions of dollars.

Convinced that California can no longer afford its $5.3 billion prison and parole system, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration is exploring moves that would all but eliminate parole conditions for nonviolent, nonserious offenders and eventually -- through early release and lighter penalties -- dramatically shrink the prison population.

Some of the moves result from recent court settlements. Others are efforts whose planning began under former Gov. Gray Davis and have been speeded up by Schwarzenegger.

But taken together, the moves would mark a profound retrenching of the state's correctional boom, fueled in recent years by tough new sentencing laws and the growing political clout of the union representing California prison correctional officers.

"Arnold has had us identify the nonviolent, nonthreatening inmates," said one high-ranking corrections official working on some of the proposals. "We could probably cut the (prison) population by a third, which would be a huge savings for taxpayers and give some of these people a chance to be productive citizens again."

more…
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/8013619p-8949908c.html

[twilight]

1. hmmm ...

Hate to say it but a smart move. Too many "three strikes and you are outs" in prison here!

From my understanding it costs the gov't a bundle to keep people locked up. I live fairly close to a major prison and they were hoping to build another one next to it for women. Boy do the vibes suck at that place!

I think there are many who are locked up for stupid reasons (like marijuana possession, etc.).

So, if this is a way for the State of CA to save money and give back to the people so be it. However, please DO NOT release Charles Manson!!! :scared:

:evilgrin:

:dem: :kick:

[mouse7]

2. Holy Crap.

That makes sense and isn't reactionary.

Must be Rob Lowe's idea. He was charged with a non-violent offense or two, if I remember right. Then again, is sexual harrassment considered a non-violent offense?

[Dr Fate]

3. I agree with Ahh-nuld on this issue...

...I hope it works...

[twilight]

4. yeah me too

As much as I am no Schwartzie fan, I think this is a better idea. Far better than cutting out help for the needy, etc., etc., etc.!!!

I am astounded that Ahnuld came up with this idea, or did he?

:kick:

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

38. Uh, I'd say no, not his ideas

Some of the moves result from recent court settlements. Others are efforts whose planning began under former Gov. Gray Davis and have been speeded up by Schwarzenegger.

<snip>

The most immediate change embraced by Schwarzenegger grew out of last year's state budget debate and also was backed by Davis.

Thanks Davis, for moving California in the right direction. Too bad the people of California didn't let you finish.

[okieinpain]

6. the prison guard union isn't going to be happy.

[twilight]

8. corrupt group of SOBs they are!

The prison guards and many that work for the prision system in Calif. are very corrupt and henious people. How do I know this? Welll I won't say except I live very close to a large prison that has some of the worst criminals in the USA locked up in it.

The people that work there are for the most part just as sicko in the head as the inmates. So, if they have to cut something out, cut out this batch of loathsome creeps!

It wouldn't break my heart one little bit to see them lose their cushy jobs. The State offered me 2 or 3 jobs there about 10 years ago and I wouldn't even go for an interview even though I was unemployed! That should tell you just exactly how bad it really is!

:dem: :kick:

[shanti]

15. nope!

they won't get to make $100,000 plus with overtime anymore! awww, sucks CCPOA, doesn't it?

[salin]

5. but what will his sponsors (eg throw the nonwhite folks in jail bushies)

think? And their freeper minions? Should be a show to watch around the reactions to this.

[XanaDUer]

7. I'm with Ahnuld on this issue...

Good luck to him and the non-violent offenders.

[intheozone]

9. A chance to be productive again???

Exactly how are they going to do that. With unemployment as high as it is and non-convicts having trouble finding jobs, what are these former convicts going to do when they are released? I am not against releasing them but the State is going to have to provide some help to them once they are out of prison. We cannot just turn these people out and leave them to their on their own unless we know they have some ability to find honest work and support themselves.

[rocktivity]

34. Ding ding ding ding ding! Ndaozone, you're our grand prize winner!

...what are these former convicts going to do when they are released?...We cannot just turn these people out and leave them...on their own unless we know they have some ability to find honest work and support themselves.

Right--California's unemployed and welfare recipients on line in front of them. This idea has sizzle, but where's the steak?


rocknation

[rman]

40. oh darn, that could be it

lots of poor, unemployed frustrated folks on the streets. how likely is it that these poor people will be perceived to be causing trouble, thus signaling the start of a crackdown on 'ungreatfull citizens' (or whatever term will be applied to them)?

[Webster Green]

10. Wow!

I'm actually in agreement with Ahnold on an issue? The prison industry is a huge drain on the California budget. If he did the right thing here, he wouldn't need to kick old ladies out of their wheelchairs.

[depakid]

11. This is one of the reasons Davis deserved to get the boot

he was bought and paid for by the prison industrial complex. He would NEVER have considered doing something as sensible as this. Never. While I didn't support the recall, it wasn't out of any sympathy for the corrupt and discompassionate Davis.

It's high time people get a clue as to just how much money is utterly wasted by indescriminate, mandatory sentencing laws. Every single dime we spend on imprisoning people for petty crimes could be invested in crumbling infrastructure or public schools and universities. Or better yet, put into restitution funds to help victims recover their losses. Unfortunately, Arnold's a Republican, so he probably won't be able to see past more tax cuts for people who don't need them.

[mouse7]

13. Only a ReThug can cut prison budgets

Sorta like only Nixon was able to open relations with China. It took someone known as dogmatically anti-communist as Nixon to withstand the fallout at home.

If a Dem tries to cut prison budgets, they get lynched by the right.

[depakid]

17. That's the conventional wisdom, but

it produces the irony of Democrats locking people up and throwing away the key (and the money) while kids are going without textbooks. It's dumb. Its wrong. And any Democrat without the courage to do the right thing due to that mode of thinking doesn't belong in office.

[lumpy]

26. The article says that

this idea was in the plans under Davis.

[Judi Lynn]

27. I saw that, too.

Too bad he wasn't able to implement his plans, like any other governor the Republican Party has not targeted for political assassination.

[Deesh]

12. I struggle to say it, but...

Arnold's got this one right. More likely, someone on his staff of advisors got it right.

A lot of non-profits and think tanks and social analysts, etc. have been recommending this for years, whether the budget was tight or not. I wish the 50 states would do it because it's a good idea and not because they don't have the cash.

[shanti]

14. perhaps he'll release some of the many thousands

of marijuana "offenders". of course, this is way after the mj offenders have had their property stripped from them :eyes:

[mitchtv]

16. he can start with ALL marijauna offenses

sine he is a doper himself, maybe someone has something on him, or he has a conscience.

[mbperrin]

18. "Some of the moves result from recent court settlements. Others are

efforts whose planning began under former Gov. Gray Davis and have been speeded up by Schwarzenegger."

But, but, but, Davis was awful and he deserved the boot, right???!!

Right???!!! (or just right-wing?)

[dfong63]

19. never in a million years would Davis have had the balls to do this

[Judi Lynn]

28. Check the article. It was in his plans. n/t

[davidinalameda]

20. Davis didn't believe in parole

he went against the recommendations of his own parole board countless times

the prisons are overcrowded and this needed to happen

I'm glad that someone, even if it was Ahnuld, did it

[koolkitty]

23. davis was a coward

"only nixon can go to china" Spock

[mitchtv]

36. are you sure Clinton's penis didn't make

the reccomendation? Come on Davis would have been strung up by the scumbag RW. time to start attacking the groper and leave the Dems alone.

[koolkitty]

21. heh.

he speaks MORE to us than the repugs. he is a rino. must be Maria's doing.

[truthisfreedom]

22. ok, so why were they being kept behind bars in the first place? what right

does ANYONE have to make these kinds of decisions concerning law and public safety on the basis of budgeting? if they change the rules now, does it mean that these people were unfairly treated in the past? does that make the past mistreated ex-cons eligible for some kind of compensation?

since when is the rule of law with respect to punishment subject to budget considerations?

[koolkitty]

24. well, davis was afraid

He did not want to risk somebody paroled doing some harm. Remember Willie Horton? So he let thousands languish and denied everybody the parole board recommended. rather than risk being labeled a criminal coddler.

[rman]

39. or it's because the prison system is growth industry nr 1 in the US

the 'prison industrial complex' will certainly fight Arnold on this one, i'm curious to see how this pans out.

[lumpy]

25. Sounds like a reasonable idea

Hope Arnold has an idea about finding jobs for these felons. Employers are reluctant to hire felons and doubt welfare is rolling in dough. Perhaps they could be hired by the state at minimum for maintence/construction/service jobs. I wonder how many would be eligible for release?

[koolkitty]

31. There are always jobs

In my area,there is always tree work. I am always shorthanded. From time to time we hire a nonviolent felon. But it always fails. within a few days or so. It's hard physical work and requires discipline to keep on working. pay is decent but they leave often without claiming their pay. Maybe too ashamed to come back. Or the drug bug bit again.

[xxqqqzme]

29. just as long as my

psycho ex-brother-in-law isn't on the list. If he is paroled my sister would have 2 leave the state.

[proud patriot]

30. Okay that's twice now

:eyes: that Arnold has done something I liked :shrug:

[koolkitty]

32. wot about the licenses?

he said he would reinstate licenses for illegal aliens In January. The after his security concerns are taken care of. the legislature is moving fast on this.

[submerged99]

33. good move

I have to say that I agree with this move by Arnold.

[mitchtv]

37. i don't like the idea of freeing white collar criminals

it's been a long haul just to get them imprisoned, instead of slapped on the wrist, now it seems like that's what's gonna happen

[peacetalksforall]

35. Are you not looking forward enough...

if you support AS on this, you know you're right...

but it probably isn't going to happen...

because it will throw minimum sentencing a blow that the minority haters cannot accept...

it will probably go to the (not so) supreme court and take years...

this party loves prisons and minimum sentencing...

they're not going to allow even their favorite terminator-groper to set a precedent that will disturb the other 49 apple-carts, plus a few apple baskets in Puerto Rico, the VI's, Samoa, and Guam (if minimum sentencing applies there as well).

Well it will be interesting to see who wins - lovers of locked up minorities with a few whities mixed in or a terminator-groper budget scraper.

Next question...if a near innocent mother of two to five gets five (years) because she got mixed up with the wrong lover who used her, but an executive who steals millions to billions gets one (year)...then, if the drug offender gets out - does this mean the executive also gets out after a relative ratio of time?