AgdaPkt 2006-08-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9A Keeping in mind that the legislature is scheduled to adjourn August 31, it appears that there is a Page 22 lot of work to do between now and then if any of these proposals stand a chance of moving forward. ADMINISTRATION CORRECTIONS REFORM PROPOSALS . Construction of Two New Prisons and Re-Entry Facilities ABX2-4 by Assemblymember Nicole Parra includes approximately $2.3 billion in revenue bonds for the construction of two new state prisons, located adjacent to existing prison facilities, and for Community Re-entry Program Facilities, which would be constructed only upon the request, and site determination, of a local entity. The re-entry facilities would provide a combined 5,000 beds (SOD beds at 10 facilities) for parole violators and inmates who are within 90 days of being paroled. COCR would like to partner with cities and counties to identify sites where these facilities could be built and managed by the state. However, ABX2-4 stipulates that COCR may also contract with a local entity for the operation of a re-entry program. According to COCR, the purpose of the re-entry facilities is to break California's entrenched cycle of parolee failure. The desired outcome is to reduce post-release criminal behavior of high risk offenders by returning parolees to their county of last legal residence, and to scale back the failure rate of at-risk parolees revoked with no new prison term. . Increased Housing Capacity in Existing Prisons and Related Infrastructure Renovations In addition to providing authority to reactivate the closed Northern California Women's Facility in Stockton to house male inmates, ABX2-2. authored by Assemblymember Todd Spitzer, would provide almost $2.5 billion in revenue bonds for the construction of new housing units and prison support buildings at existing prison facilities. ABX2-2 would also authorize the appropriation of $238 million out of the state's General Fund to renovate and expand infrastructure systems at existing prison facilities, and to convert female inmate facilities to house male inmates. . Establishment of a Female Offender Program ABX2-1, authored by Assemblymember Sally Lieber, establishes a new community-based Female Offender Program for non-serious. non-violent inmates. The program includes community correctional centers to house inmates closer to their communities, halfway house facilities to support the transition from prison to the community, and halfway back facilities designed to address the needs of parole violators who need more restrictive sanctions. Program facilities would initially be located in Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento. San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties, due to the significant number of female inmates from these areas. . Expedited Training for Correctional Officers and establishing a Southern California Training Facility This proposal would authorize COCR to perform psychological screening of correctional officer applicants, which is aimed at increasing recruitment by reducing the amount of time needed to completely evaluate an applicant. 5 .-