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Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison System

By Jeralyn, Section Inmates and Prisons
Posted on Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 12:16:04 PM EST
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Well, he had to act, being shamed by a court order. But let's hope he does some good.

In a speech at a convention of prosecutors in Newport Beach, Schwarzenegger said that the state prison system has reached "a crisis point" and that he will call a special legislative session this summer to confront the problem. Only the federal prison system is larger than California's system.

Schwarzenegger, who is running for reelection this year, made his speech a week after a federal investigator released a report chiding the governor's administration for not carrying out reforms. U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson has already placed the prison medical system under federal receivership.

If he failed to act, the whole prison system could end up under federal control.

Arnie ran on a platform of prison control, and I, for one, gave him benefit of the doubt.

One of his first promises was to reform the troubled prison system, but efforts have been stalled, the judicial report said, by bureaucratic ineptitude at the Department of Corrections and opposition from the powerful California Correctional Peace Officers Association -- the union that represents the state's 31,000 prison guards.

So, is it his fault?

He also planned to focus on rehabilitation, which didn't come to pass. Now, he is reiterating this pledge:

In addition, he repeated a promise, first made in January, to move 4,500 nonviolent female prisoners into local private facilities. Currently, women are housed together in California often regardless of the seriousness of their crimes.

Ok, Arnie, but this time we'll keep a closer watch on you.

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    Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison System | 6 comments (6 topical)
    Re: Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison Sys (none / 0) (#1)
    by Johnny on Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 02:37:55 PM EST
    Arnie is a terrible republican, and a marginal democrat. But I'll take a marginal dem over any republican anymore.

    Re: Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison Sys (none / 0) (#2)
    by narius on Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 03:22:41 PM EST
    It is all good and nice if he only plans to move the nonviolent inmates around so that the system is more "fair". However, I hope he does not spend much of my hard earn money (yes, I live in CA & pay CA taxes) on this. Prison is a place for PUNISHING scums. I hope he does not turn in into a resort. May be I will write him a letter to remind him to be tough on felons.

    Re: Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison Sys (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jun 27, 2006 at 04:04:35 PM EST
    TL. So is it his fault?
    It might not be Arnie's fault but he sure ain't doing nothing about till now.Using Prison Reform as part of a Re-election bid is downright political suicide to respond this late when the problem makes headlines almost on a daily basis. Prediction:Arnie will be making movies by next year. I am a California Native

    Re: Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison Sys (none / 0) (#4)
    by HK on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 09:04:49 AM EST
    Prediction:Arnie will be making movies by next year.
    I never thought I'd hear myself saying this, but I hope so.

    Re: Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison Sys (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jun 28, 2006 at 12:42:33 PM EST
    Narius, You're an idiot. Do you have any idea how much of your CA tax dollars are going to keep thousands of non-violent offenders locked up. That the turnkeys who run those places are making $60K+ salaries. Your lock'em them all up mentality is what's costing you a gazillion dollars in taxes.

    Re: Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison Sys (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jul 14, 2006 at 08:38:22 PM EST
    < back in the 70's inmates had to go through many differant therapy programs had to get therapist and doctors to sign the final papers to get a date. Some of the programs were so hard that many failed. Yet the ones who came through with flying colors had their sentanced changed to the new law without a new hearing or even seeing a judge. These same men who had phycologist,therapist,medical doctors sessions for years and years got as many as five of these doctors signed papers, that they were ready for release are still in prison being wearhoused.

    Arnie Promises Reform of California Prison System | 6 comments (6 topical)