Opponents of desegregation say racial separation is necessary to prevent violence. Those in favor of the plan say it will assist in preparing inmates to reenter society.

Supporters of desegregation say it is the correctional system's responsibility to foster better relations among inmates. "You want to de-emphasize race, not give power to the instinct to use race," says Margo Schlanger, a professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, who specializes in incarceration litigation.

Texas introduced desegregation years ago and violence decreased. California will model its plan after the one in Texas.

It involves educating prison officers and prisoners and a screening process to weed out inmates whose criminal record or prison history would make them a bad risk for a multiracial cell. One California facility is testing a behavior-modification program that would deny privileges to inmates who undermine the program.

California has other severe prison problems, primarily overcrowding and a lack of guards due to budgetary contraints that may make the plan not operate as smoothly as in Texas.

The California Institute for Men in Chino houses 6,500 felons -- more than double its capacity. On a recent Wednesday morning, eight correctional officers were guarding about 500 inmates on the yard, a ratio that isn't unusual, says Terry Thornton, a communications official for the California corrections department.

One thing is for sure -- other states will be watching to see what happens in California.