Supreme Court orders California to release tens of thousands of prison inmates

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 23, 2011 | by David G. Savage (Washington Bureau)

[library user]

~ EXCERPT~

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ordered California on Monday to release tens of thousands of its prisoners to relieve overcrowding, saying that "needless suffering and death" had resulted from putting too many inmates into facilities that cannot hold them in decent conditions.

It is one of the largest prison release orders in the nation's history, and it sharply split the high court.

Justices upheld an order from a three-judge panel in California that called for releasing 38,000 to 46,000 prisoners. Since then, the state has transferred about 9,000 state inmates to county jails. As a result, the total prison population is now about 32,000 more than the capacity limit set by the panel.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, speaking for the majority, said California's prisons had "fallen short of minimum constitutional requirements" because of overcrowding. As many as 200 prisoners may live in gymnasium, he said, and as many as 54 prisoners share a single toilet.

[forgotten man]

I bet at least half of them are “undocumented Democrats.”

[ExTexasRedhead]

Welcome to the Liberal Twilight Zone of Insanity.

[newzjunkey]

The demographics are slightly different in CA:

[LADY J]

Elections DO have consequences. Presidents choose who they want on the Supreme Court & their decisions affect all of us for the rest of our lives. With unemployment at a staggering rate & more people on welfare - the chances of felons finding productive ways of supporting themselves is going to cause a crime wave like we've never seen, if this ruling is not appealed.

This will set a precident for the ACLU to latch on to other states to make sure that they obey the law & release their inmates. Might be tempting to a lot of states that are in deep budget trouble & maybe make a difference in putting the death row ones on a fast track.

[newzjunkey]

How many of those in the California prison system are illegals?

It was 102,795 in 2009.

That's right, the number of criminal aliens in CA prisons is more than twice what the court wants released.

[WhiskeyX]

The Democrats have found another way of recruiting tens of thousands more voters for their candidates in subsequent elections.

[MNGal]

“That’s right, the number of criminal aliens in CA prisons is more than twice what the court wants released.”

Start with the illegal aliens, then. Get rid of the worst of the worst. The only problem I can see with this is managing to KEEP them out since it appears that our federal government is completely unwilling to close our borders.

[Cyman]

I would anticipate the local county and city governments to immediately sue the Department of Corrections to prevent en masse releases. These felons would have a devastating effect on their surrounding communities. Don’t we law abiding citizens have basic rights that this order will decimate? Can we ship these vermin to areas where the five majority SCJs reside?

[Venturer]

Let me guess. Kagen and Sodajerk voted for the release.

Right?? Right??

[hosepipe]

Everything wrong the Calif. is mentioned right here..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c';

[Loyal Sedition]

Unlike the felons who ignore laws, Kalifornia residents are required to register their guns and ammunition.

That way the cops know to shoot their dogs first, and enter in a “Dymanic” manner when responding to 911 please for help.

I hope we here in Nevada get to bill Kalifornia for the expense of disposing of their felons bodies when we defend ourselves.

[MrEdd]

California: the state that is too stupid to understand simple solutions that seem obvious in other border states.

The populace pretty much deserves what they get.

Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin, the victim can't help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime: the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity.

Robert A. Heinlein ~ Time Enough For Love

[Loyal Sedition]

“Dymanic” = ”Dynamic”.

[Loyal Sedition]

Oh come on!

You KNOW that makes too much sense!

Can’t send away all those illicit Oboma/Boxer/Fienstein votes.

[Fredgoblu]

The state can install a few hundred toilets. They don’t have to be deluxe.

Porta-Johns in the prison yard would work...that and a pee can in the cell, and everything's good to go.

What is OVERcrowding, anyway?!?! Until the number of inmates = the number of beds, I'd say that the prisons are underutilized. Simple crowding begins when inmates > beds. Even then, you could sleep 'em in shifts to relieve the crowding.

[Fredgoblu]

Which is more inhumane, anyway: needless suffering and death of convicted felons, or needless suffering and death of innocent, law abiding citizens at the hands of early-released felons?

[ctdonath2]

Since when is a limit of 26 minutes on the pot per day “cruel and unusual punishment” or some such?

[Persevero]

‘Since when is a limit of 26 minutes on the pot per day “cruel and unusual punishment” or some such?’

I don’t think it’s possible to physically organize the toilet needs of 56 people on one toilet every 24 hours.

Port a potties would be fine, I’m not suggesting anything fancy. However a lack of basic sanitation would be cruel and unusual punishment in my opinion.

I’ve had to live with up to 7 (non criminal) persons using the same toilet. It can be done, unless people are sick. It is difficult.

20 or more would be impossible, seriously.

[ctdonath2]

Chamberpots used to be the norm in society. ‘nuf said.

[ctdonath2]

5 minutes every 5 hours is insufficient? We’re talking prisoners here, not hotel guests. Chamberpots for any pressing needs.

Remember, the alternative is releasing 30,000 prisoners into society pre-rehabilitation / time-served. These are people who can’t even get out on ankle-monitor parole.