I think this is great for California! I wonder if Texas would benefit. It would seem to me that if the Federal government could step in and make such improvements that have reduced the numbers, then why could the same not be done for Texas? Texas should be as diligent to implement plans and also to create plans that will give the inmate necessary rehabs and life skills that they will need to survive out of prison and remain "free". I believe that if we can give people necessary life skills then we can greatly reduce the numbers of incoming persons, in turn reducing the overall prison population.
Where are those prisoners going or placed if they aren't freed? And isn't it costing more money to provide a separate housing facility for the disabled, aged, and mentally ill? California did undergo a lot of financial issues while under the care of former Gov. Schwarzenegger but overcrowding the jails was not caused by his behalf only. The numbers just keep growing while the budget was not coming in while under his care of the state. I don’t believe that State should be affiliated with Federal regulations. Prisons throughout California or anywhere in the United States should have bare minimum to be of comfort and coziness to criminal inmates, that’s less pressure to them and more on the innocent, like tax payers. It’s a place of punishment and rehabilitation that they choose to go to and lose all freedom and rights to being comfortable. The over crowdedness I do disagree with because it can cause tension which will draw more violence but to do it so they can be comfortable I have to disagree with. They need to focus on ways to provide programs that will decrease the increase of recidivism in returns to a place of free shelter, three meals a day, a comfortable place and warm pillow and blanket. That’s where money and focus should be directed towards, programs keeping them out of prisons and working to better themselves out in society. I do agree with the governor ensuring that county level felonies should not over crowding state facilities, that is one less problem they can save money on eliminating.
Just in office for a short time, and already Governor Jerry Brown seems to be getting his house in order--at least it appears so. This is a federal mandate that seems to give no choice but to reduce prison population to regain state control of the prison system. I'm not sure why the state regaining control from the federal government is so important, but releasing prisoners is already having a positive effect. There will now be fewer inmates vying for an obviously lacking prison medical care system. Having fewer inmates will save money to build medical facilities or upgrade some of the existing ones. Prisoner health care should be an important issue for all of us for moral reasons as well as 8th Amendment laws against cruel and unusual punishment. New jobs will be created from construction of the new facilities and permanent health care positions when the new facilities open--both of which will have a positive impact on the economy. After years of prison neglect, taking money from education, transportation, and public health care to prop up an ailing institution, maybe this new endeavor will be just the push needed to repair this broken system.
I think that what Governor Jerry Brown is doing is a positive change because his goal is to repair the broken prison system in California and because he has started thinking about the future. The questions that I have are where are the prisoners that are being released going to? Are they being into rehabilitation programs or are they being given probation sentences instead of prison sentences? From what category of offenders are the ones that are being released? Constructing new buildings for the older and disabled inmates, I think is a method to produce jobs and also to separate the prison population, which would hopefully relieve tension between inmates.
This is a clear case where we must celebrate the small victories. I'm glad to hear that positive progress is being accomplished in the prison systems. California, i believe, has the largest prison population in the States so it is imperative that they get their prisons under control. The article mentioned that one of the new facilities that they need to build for the mentally ill and elderly will be built in South Stockton. That is crazy, i just heard about Stockton, California for the first time earlier today on NPR. Apparently, the town of Stockton is going bankrupt and the economic situation for the residents of the town in a catastrophic state. I wonder if this new prison is an attempt to not only help the overcrowding of the prisons, but also hep the local economy of one of California's failing municipalities. Now, that's what i would call positive thinking.
I read this article and then I looked up the information about the realignment program. California prisons have had many other times that their prisons are overcrowded. I can appreciate that the task was handed over to the federal government it is obvious the state was having continued problems in running the prison system. Prisoners that need to get medical care for mental illness issues should not be in a general population setting. I also can see the concerns of citizens if too many of the prisoners were to be diverted to lower level housing but what these citizens need to realize is the best option for the time being.
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ReplyDeleteI think this is great for California! I wonder if Texas would benefit. It would seem to me that if the Federal government could step in and make such improvements that have reduced the numbers, then why could the same not be done for Texas? Texas should be as diligent to implement plans and also to create plans that will give the inmate necessary rehabs and life skills that they will need to survive out of prison and remain "free". I believe that if we can give people necessary life skills then we can greatly reduce the numbers of incoming persons, in turn reducing the overall prison population.
ReplyDeleteWhere are those prisoners going or placed if they aren't freed? And isn't it costing more money to provide a separate housing facility for the disabled, aged, and mentally ill? California did undergo a lot of financial issues while under the care of former Gov. Schwarzenegger but overcrowding the jails was not caused by his behalf only. The numbers just keep growing while the budget was not coming in while under his care of the state. I don’t believe that State should be affiliated with Federal regulations. Prisons throughout California or anywhere in the United States should have bare minimum to be of comfort and coziness to criminal inmates, that’s less pressure to them and more on the innocent, like tax payers. It’s a place of punishment and rehabilitation that they choose to go to and lose all freedom and rights to being comfortable. The over crowdedness I do disagree with because it can cause tension which will draw more violence but to do it so they can be comfortable I have to disagree with. They need to focus on ways to provide programs that will decrease the increase of recidivism in returns to a place of free shelter, three meals a day, a comfortable place and warm pillow and blanket. That’s where money and focus should be directed towards, programs keeping them out of prisons and working to better themselves out in society. I do agree with the governor ensuring that county level felonies should not over crowding state facilities, that is one less problem they can save money on eliminating.
ReplyDeleteJust in office for a short time, and already Governor Jerry Brown seems to be getting his house in order--at least it appears so. This is a federal mandate that seems to give no choice but to reduce prison population to regain state control of the prison system. I'm not sure why the state regaining control from the federal government is so important, but releasing prisoners is already having a positive effect. There will now be fewer inmates vying for an obviously lacking prison medical care system. Having fewer inmates will save money to build medical facilities or upgrade some of the existing ones. Prisoner health care should be an important issue for all of us for moral reasons as well as 8th Amendment laws against cruel and unusual punishment. New jobs will be created from construction of the new facilities and permanent health care positions when the new facilities open--both of which will have a positive impact on the economy. After years of prison neglect, taking money from education, transportation, and public health care to prop up an ailing institution, maybe this new endeavor will be just the push needed to repair this broken system.
ReplyDeleteI think that what Governor Jerry Brown is doing is a positive change because his goal is to repair the broken prison system in California and because he has started thinking about the future. The questions that I have are where are the prisoners that are being released going to? Are they being into rehabilitation programs or are they being given probation sentences instead of prison sentences? From what category of offenders are the ones that are being released? Constructing new buildings for the older and disabled inmates, I think is a method to produce jobs and also to separate the prison population, which would hopefully relieve tension between inmates.
ReplyDeleteThis is a clear case where we must celebrate the small victories. I'm glad to hear that positive progress is being accomplished in the prison systems. California, i believe, has the largest prison population in the States so it is imperative that they get their prisons under control. The article mentioned that one of the new facilities that they need to build for the mentally ill and elderly will be built in South Stockton. That is crazy, i just heard about Stockton, California for the first time earlier today on NPR. Apparently, the town of Stockton is going bankrupt and the economic situation for the residents of the town in a catastrophic state. I wonder if this new prison is an attempt to not only help the overcrowding of the prisons, but also hep the local economy of one of California's failing municipalities. Now, that's what i would call positive thinking.
ReplyDeleteI read this article and then I looked up the information about the realignment program. California prisons have had many other times that their prisons are overcrowded. I can appreciate that the task was handed over to the federal government it is obvious the state was having continued problems in running the prison system. Prisoners that need to get medical care for mental illness issues should not be in a general population setting. I also can see the concerns of citizens if too many of the prisoners were to be diverted to lower level housing but what these citizens need to realize is the best option for the time being.
ReplyDelete