Daily Corrections Clips

CDCR NEWS:

Hollywood Executive Produces More than Comedies: Producer Scott Budnick changes the lives of hundreds of troubled youth
By Dana Toyama, Information Officer I-- In 1996, Scott Budnick was an intern in Los Angeles whose passion for troubled youth was about to get a big push in an altruistic direction. After reading a Rolling Stones article about the murder of a Los Angeles Police Department officer’s son, and the resulting trial of six teenagers, Budnick grew interested in the criminal justice system and its treatment of juveniles.

Letter to the Editor: Lake County Record Bee

The goal of Public Safety Realignment is not to “save money”, as Mandy Feder implies (“Saving Money, at What Cost?”, January 19). In fact, the State of California is investing heavily in the success of Realignment, even as the budget of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is reduced with the declining inmate population.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent this year to support Realignment at the local level, and that’s expected to rise to more than $1 billion in 2013. The money helps pay for more staff and training at the counties, and for the expansion and construction of county jails.

It’s important to remember that Realignment is driven by a federal court order, affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, to reduce prison overcrowding in California. Realignment allows that to happen without the early release of inmates from state prisons.

However, along with being California’s cornerstone program for meeting the federal court order, Realignment is also a sweeping reform of how California manages low-level offenders. State prisons will continue to house serious and violent offenders serving long and life sentences. This change will give the state more space, options and resources for the serious and violent offenders in state prison. The lower-level offenders will be closer to their families and local services and that has been shown to make rehabilitation more likely, thus reducing recidivism and the long-term cost to the state.

NEWS:

California Institutions

Event celebrates Calipatria's State Prison's 20th anniversary
By Silvio J. Panta, Imperial Valley Press-- While the surrounding community has changed a lot in the past 20 years, so has Calipatria State Prison, said Robert Silvas.

California's youth prisons nearing an end
By Barry Krisberg, The San Francisco Chronicle-- In January 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown announced his plan to shut down all state youth prisons by 2014. If backed by the Legislature, the governor's proposal would have counties share $10 million to develop prudent local alternatives to state custodial facilities.

Federal Receiver

California struggles with funding prison medical care
KPCC-- State officials may be relieved that populations of previously over-crowded California prisons are dropping as a result of a 2011 diversion program that redirects non-violent criminals to county wards, but they now have a potential medical care problem to solve.

OPINION

Editorial: State must grapple with aging prisoners
The Sacramento Bee-- California finally is making headway in reducing numbers in overcrowded prisons – enough to get the federal courts to say that the end of federal receivership "appears to be in sight."

CDCR Related

Measure to scale back Three-Strikes law passes state Assembly - but no vote til 2014
By Tracey Kaplan, San Jose Mercury News-- A group of Stanford University professors backing an initiative to scale back California's tough Three Strikes Law will continue to aim for the November ballot, even as the state Assembly on Tuesday passed a similar measure that wouldn't appear before voters until 2014.

Three-Strikes Reform Initiative Moves to Senate After Surprise Passage by Assembly
KQED-- Update 10:57 a.m. In a surprise outcome, the Assembly has passed AB 327, Tom Amminao's Three-Strikes reform bill. It now moves to the Senate.

Inmate Fire Crews Focus Of New Bill From Lake Elsinore Lawmaker
By Toni McAllister, Lake Elsinor-Wildomar Patch-- Lake Elsinore Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries introduced legislation Monday that would put in place one option for keeping inmate fire crews up and running.

Parole Agent Says Killer Can Be Transported Safely For Search
CBS 13-- The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department has serious concerns about the safety and security in transporting a serial killer to help with a search for victims’ remains, but the parole agent who met with him says it can all be done safely.

Hayward Police Looking at ‘Speed Freak Killers’ In 1988 Case
CBS 13-- The twisted tale of two serial killers has taken yet another turn. Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, the so-called “Speed Freak Killers,” were convicted in 2001 of four murders but are suspected in many more.

Jerry Brown orders review, finds missing X-ray machine, dental chairs
By David Siders, The Sacramento Bee-- Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown was confiscating state-issued cellphones and cars. This year, he's finding grout pumps and chairs.