CA: Major parole moves on the table. Governor's ideas would reduce prison population, save millions

Sacramento Bee ^ | December 27, 2003 | Gary Delsohn

[John Jorsett]

Convinced that California can no longer afford its $5.3 billion prison and parole system, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration is exploring moves that would all but eliminate parole conditions for nonviolent, nonserious offenders and eventually -- through early release and lighter penalties -- dramatically shrink the prison population. Some of the moves result from recent court settlements. Others are efforts whose planning began under former Gov. Gray Davis and have been speeded up by Schwarzenegger.

[vladog]

And hear I thought the firing squads were going to get busy.

[Mark was here]

Most thieves go into unoccupied homes after the owners leave. This is a major irritant and can also effect the ole wallet, but it is not violent. Most of these criminals are in fact cowards because they do not want to face their victims, who may shoot them or perform ball bat counseling.

I came home after my house was broke into, and I felt more than irritated.

I felt more than a bite out of my wallet.

I felt that my rights to my property were not respected, and in truth my rights were VIOLATED.

Notice the close relationship between VIOLated and VIOLent?

If the law does not fully punish those who violate the sanctity of ones home, the law is then nothing but a joke, and no one is safe.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Well, you know, I took a Thanksgiving break. :-)

Thanks for the ping!

[Cathryn Crawford]

Christmas, not Thanksgiving! My brain is on holiday as well.

[patton]

slacker

[Scenic Sounds]

What happened to your article this week?

I'll have one out next Friday - thanks for asking. Once I'm finished with my Christmas shopping, I'll be able to work on it full-time. ;-)

[patton]

Psst, Cathryn - Christmas was Thursday...

[Cathryn Crawford]

Psst, Cathryn - Christmas was Thursday...

I know it is! I'll be ready for it. I'm nearly done shopping.

[heleny]

identify the nonviolent, nonthreatening inmates

Gray Davis or our Democrat-dominated legislature considered releasing "nonviolent" inmates about a year ago. Kentucky did it last year, and one of the "nonviolent" convicts raped a young woman soon after his early release.

The problem is that the "nonviolent" category of crimes includes crimes I might consider violent but don't meet the requirements to be considered "violent."

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[Sir Gawain]

"With all due respect to the governor, people in the penitentiary are there for serious crimes and they ought to serve their full sentences."

Like Tommy Chong.

[robertpaulsen]

Release them on one condition -- they cannot leave the State of California.

[CindyDawg]

That should be a give. We have enough problems of our own.

[robertpaulsen]

"Should be", yeah. But it won't.

If I were released, I'd get as far away from California as I could.

Oh well. They're "non-violent" so I guess that's OK. They'll just steal and burglarize homes and businesses to support their drug habit, maybe deal drugs to our kids, prostitute themselves, hey, just don't get violent.

Need food? Shelter? Medical care? Clean needles? Methadone? I hear that Texas is a good place to go!

[CindyDawg]

I hear that Texas is a good place to go!

True, but we are full:') We are known for emptying our jails of the bad guys though. Sounds like a good candidate for a supervised half way house and ankle braclet. Yall need to rehabilitate them at home.