I’d like to see a breakdown of why all these prisoners are in the slammer. How many are non-violent criminals who could be handled in other ways than locking them up, for example. This is bad news for prison industry stocks.
Federal judges on Monday tentatively ordered California to release tens of thousands of inmates, up to a third of all prisoners, in the next three years to stop dangerous overcrowding.
As many as 57,000 could be let go if the current population were cut by the maximum percentage considered by a three-judge panel. Judges said the move could be done without threatening public safety — and might improve a public safety hazard.
The state immediately said it would appeal the final ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.
[...]
“There is no relief other than a prisoner release order that can remedy the constitutionally inadequate medical and mental health care,” the panel led by Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt, wrote.“The state has a number of options, including reform of the earned credit and parole systems, that would serve to reduce the population of the prison to whatever percentage is ultimately determined to be appropriate without adversely affecting public safety,” the judges wrote.
The panel ordered the state to consult with the prisoners’ lawyers to consider what actions to take.
With the economy what it is, how many states and cities are looking at releasing prisoners to save money? Maybe this is the way to free pot smokers in those draconian states that put people in prison for puffing.
When you jail more people while cutting taxes, this happens.
Conservatism is not sustainable.
Wisconsin has the infamous, “Truth in Sentencing” which requires judges to only incarcerate according to the law. If the minimum for something is 30 years, and the judge feels a week is sufficient, it’s technically against the law for the judge to do anything less than 30.
The practice has another name: warehousing. Rhode Island tried it and they had to repeal it. Not enough money.
Wisconsin, alas, has deep pockets of the public to pick.
Here is a link with stats. The data is a little old but probably hasn’t changed much.
It is immoral to imprison (and everything else that goes with it) people for non-violent offences. Only those that are a threat to others should be denied their liberty.
# 1 Greg Allen said, “When you jail more people while cutting taxes, this happens. Conservatism is not sustainable.”
California hasn’t been experiencing tax cuts. Tax increases, yes. What are you babbling about?
“The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that Californians pay an average of $2,392 in state taxes. As shown below, California imposes the highest per capita state tax burden among the eight largest states.”
They need to make room for me in the debtors’ prison.
#6. Hope you’re kidding. You can be jailed for debt.
Lets look at the trends. California raising taxes, raising spending, can’t afford jails, increasing security everywhere.
Solution: the government becomes a prison authority, the people all inmates, and the state a prison.
All your freedoms are belong to us.
How many are in jail for marijuana? Let all of them go.
The question is not: “How many are non-violent criminals who could be handled in other ways”
The question is: How many violent criminals will be handled in other ways?
After seeing the crazy past decisions in California, the CIA World Fact Book should the loony state to the travel advisory list of dangerous & kooky places to avoid.
Many of those in prison are there due to the failed drug war. Many were sent there for simple possession. Sending someone to jail hoping to correct (cure) them makes as much sense as sending an alcoholic to jail hoping to cure their addiction to alcohol. Leave the prisons available for the violent criminals and treat the addicted in rehab.
Correction – a missing word missing in previous post
After seeing the crazy past decisions in California, the CIA World Fact Book should add the loony state to the travel advisory list of dangerous & kooky places to avoid.
Put them in tents. Works for Sheriff Joe.
Non-violent offenders with a good record of behavior while in jail, get offered Day Release, where I live. They hold down a real job, get a wage, they return to a minimum security prison at sunset, and fill their full jail sentence this way.
This is like deja-vu.
About 20 years ago crime was sky high and people demanded these thugs be put in jail over the protest of the misguided bleeding hearts.
And then, what do you know, crime went down to where we now live in a relatively peaceful country. New York has experienced a Renaissance, for example.
And then when the young punks and people with poor memories feel safe, they start to get ‘noble’ and decide that we have too many prisoners.
And we can all predict what will happen next.
@Specul8
Weed isn’t an addiction. Its a lifestyle … a currently illegal lifestyle.
Great. More people out looking for jobs that aren’t there.
#15 daveg, don’t be such a rube. You have nothing to fear from these kind-hearted people who are in prison due to overzealous prosecutors and a state bent on revenge instead of rehabilitation.
I hope they all move right next door to a left wing nut. We’ll see how compassionate they are then. (remember the phrase “be careful of what you wish for”)
On the issue of California, what is forgotten is that the current system is all on paper. When a doctor needs a test run he hand writes an order and sends to the lab via fax. If he wants medical history on a patient he sends a fax to records and waits. If it takes too long then he doesn’t work on the patient; too risky with a history of allergies, prescriptions, etc.
This is a great solution to the problem, let lots of prisoners go. And how does that help change the system, again?
I look at this and wonder what incentive the state has to improve this system? I mean everyone’s working very hard; doctors, nurses, etc. They all want to help but the system prevents them from doing what they really want to do. The system, the bureaucracy doesn’t care. And when you talk to them they have developed this attitude of ‘well, nothing I can do to improve things’.
Take a close look because this is how it will be for everyone if we let the government handle our healthcare.