AgdaPkt 2006-08-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9A PRISON REFORMS from page 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7 Secretary 11lton stated that our corrections particular community. These programs system is facing a severe crisis. Based on will be evidence-based, and tailored to the California's current population and projected specific problems inmates/parolees must growth, the COCR will run out of beds for its adult surmount. male population by June 2007. Based on these . Secure community re-entry beds for projections, the state will need to increase the inmates/parolees in the selected target adult male capacity by more than 50,000 beds, .Wl~sk To bolster re-entry success, in- with associated program space, by 2021 in order mates and revoked parolees will spend the to accommodate the expected population. last few months of their term in close proximity to their home. Housing is antici- Re-entry Facilities, a Role for Cities? pated to be cells with double occupancy. The facility will provide 24-hour supervi- Of particular interest to local governments in sian, and not allow in or out privileges. The the corrections management plan is the idea of re- building will contain a secure perimeter, entry program facilities. These facilities would and adequate space for mandatory pro provide a combined 5,000 beds for parole violators gramming. These facilities will be operated and inmates who are within 90 days of being by COCR, and will be designed to be paroled. To make this initiative a success. the aesthetically complimentary to the sur- state envisions new partnerships with local gov- rounding area. ernment, new secure re-entry facilities and en- hanced services, all necessary for program According to COCR, the purpose of the ra- success. entry facilities is to break California's entrenched cycle of parolee failure. The desired outcome is In particular, COCR is interested in partnering to reduce post-release criminal behavior of high with cities and counties to identify sites where risk offenders by returning parolees to their county these facilities could be built and managed by the of last legal residence, and to scale back the state. Potential benefits of these facilities include: failure rate of at-risk parolees revoked with no new prison term. . Imoroved carole and local law enforcement information on oarolees, and providing Next Steps parole agents new and better risk and needs assessment tools for better place- The special session is scheduled to begin ment decisions. August 7, the same day the Legislature recon- . Creating new Police and Parole Agent venes from summer recess. The legislature is ~. Additional parole agents will team scheduled to adjourn August 31, leaving only a few with local law enforcement. Together these weeks to act on the seven measures the teams will increase the intensity and quality Governor's office has stated will make up the of supervision of parolees. They will target prison reform package. In addition, the Governor's serious parole offenders for revocation and office hopes that the bills will be heard in a special prosecution. Parolees at serious risk of ra- conference committee to expedite their approval offending will be targeted for placement in and avoid hold-ups in standing legislative commit- these Community-Based Parole Re-entry tees. Facilities. . Imoroved delivery and quality of inmatel To access the complete corrections reform oarolee oroarams. A mix of programs will management plan, please visit: WNW.cdcr.ca.govl be designed to meet the unique needs of Communications/specialSession. inmates and parolees returning to a Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 7 August 4, 2006 - Issue #31 -