Daily Corrections Clips

"We will be looking at pre-sentencing inmates who can't make bail but aren't accused of a violent crime. This would be a perfect situation for the use of GPS monitoring bracelets, and in-house arrest." Tehama County Sheriff Dave Hencratt (addressing jail overcrowding remedies)

Corning Observer, Julie R. Johnson, October 19, 2011

CDCR NEWS:

All Inmates Have Resumed Eating Following October 13 Conclusion of Mass Hunger Strike Disturbance
SACRAMENTO – All California inmates have resumed eating meals following the conclusion of the inmate-initiated hunger strike that ended October 13, 2011, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) said today.

State Corrections Officials Join Stanislaus County in Breaking Ground for Juvenile Detention Facility
Expands capacity by 60 beds as county houses, treats more juvenile offenders. SACRAMENTO -- Officials of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) joined Stanislaus County officials in a ground-breaking ceremony Tuesday for the first local facility in California to house juvenile offenders who previously would have been in state custody.

NEWS:

Realignment

Prison realignment program pushes county jail beyond functional capacity
By Julie R. Johnson, Corning Observer-- At least five inmates from state prisons have been released to Tehama County since Oct. 1, and are now the responsibility of county law enforcement authorities.

Preparing For County Realignment Program
By Tina Falco, My Mother Lode--The Tuolumne County Supervisors have approved a plan that addresses the Public Safety Realignment Act. AB 109 was passed to help alleviate prison overcrowding as well as the state's financial crisis. It redefines the definition of felonies, transfers parole duties from state to county control, and implements a variety of alternative custody type programs.

More Criticism for Brown's Realignment Program
By Ben Adler, Capitol Public Radio-- It’s only in its third week, but the criticism over California Governor Jerry Brown’s realignment program is growing louder. Counties now supervise low-level inmates previously under state control.

State Workers

State prison worker unions opt for contract changes to save jobs
By Jon Ortiz, The Sacramento Bee-- As the state's massive prison and parole department begins a historic downsizing to cut costs and comply with court orders, it's getting a hand from organized labor.

California Institutions

Inmates still hospitalized a week after Okla. riot
The Associated Press-- Four inmates who were injured in a prison riot at the North Fork Correctional Facility last week remain hospitalized. Corrections Corporation of America spokesman Mike Machak (MAY'-chak) said Tuesday the prisoners were still being treated at area hospitals. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman Ralph Jackson says the inmates are in stable condition.

California Parole

Cancer-stricken 'Onion Field' killer denied release, will die in prison
By Michael Martinez, CNN-- The California Board of Parole Hearings declined Tuesday to grant a compassionate prison release to Gregory Powell, the infamous "Onion Field" cop killer whose 1963 crime was chronicled in Joseph Wambaugh's best-selling book.

'Onion Field' murderer's final parole bid is denied
By Michael J. Mishak, Los Angeles Times-- Board turns down compassionate release for Gregory Powell, 78, whose 1963 kidnapping and murder of an LAPD officer shocked the city. Powell is dying of prostate cancer and has six months or less to live.

‘Onion Field’ killer to remain in jail
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters-- A terminally ill prisoner whose 1963 murder of a policeman was chronicled in the book and film “The Onion Field'' was denied compassionate release on Tuesday after he said he didn't want to be freed, officials said.

Cancer-stricken "Onion Field" killer Gregory Powell denied release
CBS News-- The California parole board on Tuesday denied compassionate release for Gregory Powell, the man convicted of killing a Los Angeles police officer during a kidnapping chronicled in the book "The Onion Field."

CDCR Related

Police Re-Canvass Missing Arizona Girl’s Neighborhood
CNN-- One week after a 5-year-old Glendale girl was reported missing from her mother’s apartment, police returned to her neighborhood Tuesday afternoon to re-canvass the area and try to develop new leads.

Programs Putting Ex-Felons Back To Work
By Susanne Brunner, Central Coast News-- San Francisco is proposing a plan that would give businesses a tax incentive if they hire ex-felons. Loyanne Flinn with Monterey County's Workforce Investment Board says the county is already ahead of the game. It runs a similar program to the one San Francisco is proposing, but without a tax break for employers. Flinn said the results have been nothing but positive.