The Stop Gap Measure

As of January 25th 2010, California has begun its promise to reduce the prison population by 6,500 inmates by the end of the year. The plan is to give inmates extra “good time” benefits, raising the original benefits from 33% to 50% reduced time [2]. Of course, not all inmates are eligible for early release; the low-risk offenders have the priority over the other inmates. Low-risk offenders can include non-violent criminals, older criminals serving life sentences for crimes done decades ago, and inmates in occupational or educational programs.

To further reduce the burden on our criminal justice system, the lower-risk offenders will not be supervised when they are paroled. However the same legal restrictions will still apply to them; they will not be able to vote, own firearms, and they can be searched without a warrant. Not only does this measure help to reduce prison population, it reduces recidivism and the work load on our parole agents. The law previously made all released convicts serve at least 3 years of parole, now only the higher risk convicts will be under the more watchful eyes of parole agents. Figures now estimate that they will now be responsible for an average of 48 parolees instead of 70 they had to manage before [1]. Parole agents can now focus on making sure the more dangerous parolees stay inline. As mentioned before, it helps to reduce recidivism by lowering the risk that a parolee will not be sent back to prison on a technicality.

Yet this is still only a stop gap measure, early released inmates are stigmatized to employers. With the economy the way it is, it is already very hard for the average person to find a suitable job. Those with the added taint of convict will have a much harder time [3]. Those lucky enough to get into an occupational or educational program in prison will stand a better chance in obtaining a livable salary. Those who can’t will most likely end up back in prison with even less hope of another chance.

The state estimates that these measures will save them roughly $1 billion over the next year. However, time will only tell how effective the new law will be, currently, it appears like a step forward in solving our immediate problem. And although our prison system will still be will over flooded, it buys legislature more time to develop long term solutions. After all we have at least another 160,000 more inmates to work with.

Associated Press. (2010, Jan 22). "California to Reduce Prison Population by 6,500 Inmates" Fox News Network. accessed (2010, Feb 22) URL: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583591,00.html

Furlio, A. (2010, Feb 20). "Judge switches, applies good-time release credits to jail inmates" Sacramento Bee. accessed (2010, Feb 23) URL: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/02/20/2551061/hed-here.html#Comments_Container

Tahmincioglu, E. (2010, Feb 17) "Unable to get jobs, freed inmates return to jail" MSNBC. accessed (2010, Feb 22) URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35263313/ns/business-careers/