Summary Parole: CA Eyes Releasing 20,000 Prisoners Early to Ease Budget Crunch

California Gov. Schwarzenegger is proposing releasing 20,000 low-risk prison inmates early, but the release of those inmates would be subject so search and seizure waivers under a form of "summary parole."

The plan would cut the prison population by 22,159 inmates and save the state $256 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1, the Bee reported. Savings could reach $780 million through 2010.

The proposal also calls for eliminating more than 4,000 prison jobs, most of which would involve guards.

Andy Furillo of the Sacramento Bee has more:

Under "summary" parole, offenders would remain on supervised release and still be subject to searches by local law enforcement at any time, but they would not be returned to prison on a technical violation. It would take a new crime prosecuted by local law enforcement officials to return the offenders to prison.

A summary parole system would cut the daily average population of released offenders by 18,522 in the next fiscal year and result in a further prison population reduction of 6,249, according to the proposal. It would save the state $98 million in the 2008-09 fiscal year and $329 million through 2009-10. The number of job cuts in the parole proposal will hit 1,660.

Gubernatorial spokesman Adam Mendelsohn declined to confirm the proposal outlined to The Bee, but reaffirmed the administration's belief that all departments need to cut spending across the board by 10 percent next year. Schwarzenegger "has not made any decisions" on where the cuts will take place, Mendelsohn said, including whether they will involve the early release of inmates or staff cuts.

Over on the Sentencing Law and Policy Blog, Prof. Berman calls this proposal "more evidence . . . of how economic realities can serve as the most effective and urgent catalyst for sentencing reforms. Disconcertingly, had Schwarzenegger's administration done a better job managing prison growth since he became governor, this new extreme release solution would likely not be needed."

Comments

[Hinda Gibbs]

Unfortunately some of the reasons for violations are weak. I have a relative who was violated for not having put his change of address in writing. He phoned it in. He was judged as having "absconded?" for seven days. This was added to his parole. He is mentally challenged. He had been on SSI. Having his check stopped, he did not understand what should be done for re-instatement. With no money, he was advised to get a phony ID to apply for work. He was told that illegals did it all the time. He is black. Caught a new crime (possessing a fake ID) for which he was given 90 days. Parole cancelled and sent back to jail for 5 to 10 months. Is that really necessary? His parole is due to end in September.

[Mary]

Unfortunately crack causes people to commit crimes to support their addiction. So how will the new guidelines reguarding crack help the ones who have only committed crimes because of this awful drug. It happened to my son, 18 yrs old got six yrs in prison sent to pelican bay right away no violent crimes. Through my efforts got him out of there but he has been in for 5 yrs. That is a crime. Two court ordered psycology reprts said he had the maturity of a 16 yr old not to send him to prison but they did it anyway. Labeled him a southern Calif latino. He is half white and from central calif. There were people in there who never met him but by that label wanted to GET him. Great system...He gets out this week and is almost maxed out. He is 23 now and did not deserve what he got. The Calif Courts and prisons are horriffic and inhumane in so many cases. I don't want to live in this state anymore...........

[Sheri Burke]

My sister was caught in Hawaii nearly 6 years ago for growing marijuana, jailed, and drug tested for 5 years until her court sentencing. In that time she sought counseling, became drug free, found a great job with benefits, volunteered in her community, and for the first time, really became the person she was years ago. She was then sentenced after 5 years to 4 years in prison in Dublin, CA. When she gets out she will not qualify for her job, but she is hoping that she can get back to her home and family and continue to build her life. I believe (as I wrote to the sentencing judge) that in the past 5 years, my sister has accomplished more than what sentencing her to prison could ever do. She is more than willing to be drug tested and be searched to get her life back. I pray that this will be the case for her.

[Fake ID Girl]

I've heard of a study that said cigarettes are as addictive as crack (I smoke and don't doubt this). Just imagine if all the people you know who smoke suddenly had to pay $40 a pack!