prisons

California Fire Camps Key To Reducing Prison Overcrowding

Katie Orr — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:07:39 +0000

Reducing overcrowding at California prisons is not easy. Generally, inmates must either be released or given more space, which is expensive. But there is a third option. Inmates can be sent to fire camps. That's a cornerstone of Governor Jerry Brown's plan to reduce prison overcrowding in response to a federal court order. State Government Reporter Katie Orr takes a closer look at what these camps entail.

Steinberg: Addressing Mental Health Can Reduce Prison Overcrowding

Ben Adler — Wed, 08 May 2013 01:19:48 +0000

The top Democrat in the California Senate is calling for more crisis access to mental health services to help reduce the state’s overcrowded prisons.

But as Ben Adler reports from Sacramento, the proposals likely wouldn’t satisfy a federal court order to reduce the state’s prison population.

New California Prison Plan 'Best of the Bad Options'

Katie Orr — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:56:18 +0000

“The best of the bad options”. That’s how the Department of Corrections is characterizing its plan to reduce prison overcrowding in California. Katie Orr reports from Sacramento.

More inmates will be sent to lower security fire camps, some elderly and sick prisoners will be paroled early, additional beds will be leased from county jails. Those are among the measures California is proposing to further reduce prison overcrowding.

With Competing Political and Legal Pressures, Brown Defends Prison Realignment

Katie Orr — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:30:09 +0000

Governor Jerry Brown is taking hits both inside and outside the State Capitol as he faces a stinging federal court order to reduce California’s prison population - and impassioned calls to expand it. Katie Orr has more from Sacramento on the events Tuesday that show the competing political and legal pressures surrounding the governor.

What's Next for Governor Brown After Prison Court Ruling?

Julie Small - KPCC — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:33:26 +0000

California faces sanctions, fines and possible jail time for Governor Jerry Brown if the state continues to defy a federal court order to reduce its prison population. That harsh ruling from a three-judge panel came last week in response to the governor’s motion to vacate a prison population cap those judges imposed seven years ago – when they found that overcrowding was the main reason inmates suffered and died from a lack of healthcare. Now, they say overcrowding is still a problem.

Court Rejects Brown's Motion to Reduce Calif. Prison Population

Ben Adler — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 01:45:41 +0000

In a scathing ruling, a federal three-judge panel has rejected Governor Jerry Brown’s request that it lift a court order placing a cap on California’s prison population. Ben Adler has more from Sacramento.

The U.S. Supreme Court has told the state it must reduce its prison population to 137 percent of design capacity. The state got most of the way there. And in January, Governor Brown filed a motion asking the court to essentially say, that’s good enough. The answer from the court is a very clear “no.”

Brown's Bid to Regain Control of Mental Health Care in California Prisons Rejected

Ben Adler — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:50:13 +0000

A federal judge has rejected California’s push to retake control of prison inmates’ mental health care. As Ben Adler reports from Sacramento, it’s a major setback for Governor Jerry Brown.

In Sacramento, Justice Kennedy Criticizes California Prison Spending

Ben Adler — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:09:56 +0000

He’s not only from California. Justice Anthony Kennedy’s U.S. Supreme Court rulings – past and future – are felt in California. He wrote the ruling in a case involving the state’s overcrowded prisons, and many observers feel the fate of Proposition 8 is in his hands.

One Year In, Too Soon to Evaluate Prison Realignment

Ben Adler — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:49:32 +0000

It’s been one year since Governor Jerry Brown shifted responsibility for low-level offenders in California from the state to counties. But as Ben Adler reports from Sacramento, experts say it’s too soon to truly assess the impact of the governor’s “realignment” program.