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This was my column on the potential impact on counties from the Governor's proposed prison reform:
Recently the Governor announced his plan for California State Prison Reform to solve over-crowding problems. Recommendations are that individuals who have been convicted and sentenced to three years or less would remain in the local County jail system. Currently those sentenced to more than one year are sent to State facilities. The Siskiyou County Jail runs at a 95% capacity right now and individuals who have been convicted must make an appointment nine months in advance to serve their jail term. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that the Governor’s plan will shift the crisis right back onto local government.
To meet this anticipated demand, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors has approved the development of a “Jail Needs Assessment” under Title 24. The State has indicated that it will consider a 75% cost-share in the expansion and building of new jail facilities, but the assessment will be required as one of the first steps to qualify for the waiting list. The assessment should give us a better idea of how, where and what kind of facilities might be added.
In addition, the State plan also recommends the return of all female and low-level non-violent juvenile offenders to the local level. The State plans on offsetting the costs of incarceration by paying $94,000 per individual to the County. Fortunately we currently have an unoccupied “pod” at our Juvenile Hall, which will allow for expansion. Regionally, the north state is looking at all its juvenile facilities and examining whether certain facilities could specialize – for instance, a girl’s camp or a Therapeutic Community specializing in drug and alcohol issues.
What makes this a particular crisis for Siskiyou County is its potential future effect on the County’s General Fund. Budgets consist of a series of earmarked pots of money that can only be spent on certain types of programs. For instance, most Human Services programs are federal/state programs. Although the County is expected to provide a minimal “match” of funds, programs are largely financed by funds ear-marked just for them. Some, like Behavioral Health, are either Medi-Cal financed or paid for in a lump sum as a State program.
Out of Siskiyou County’s $123 million budget, $33 million is available for “discretionary” expenditures to cover services such as the jail, juvenile hall, probation, Sheriff, District Attorney, Public Defender, County Counsel. County Administrator, Assessor, Treasurer/Tax Collector, County Clerk, Auditor, building and planning departments, library, animal control, veterans services, museum, farm advisor, Ag Commissioner, Grand Jury, County Courts, County Fire, economic development, arts and tourism promotion.
Revenues to the General Fund have been relatively static at approximately $31million in fiscal year 04/05; $31million in 05/06; and an anticipated $31 million in 06/07. This is largely because Siskiyou County has not seen economic growth that would boost tax revenue. The potential financial impact of expanded jail facilities, the need for additional personnel to staff them and additional probation officers needed after discharge is most likely to have a dramatic impact on departments and other programs currently supported by the General Fund.
Mind boggling. Other states (like Texas) like to talk about how tough on crime they are, but California has the highest percentage of it's population in jail and/or prison than ANY OTHER STATE. Apparently other states "tough" policies are a lot better than our "tough" policies at achieving the goal of keeping career criminals locked up and reforming those that can be reformed.
There was a line in a documentary on gang violence I saw on HBO the other day that really stuck with me: "California's prisons aren't about rehabilitation anymore. They aren't even about punishment. They are literally "human warehouses"