Posted on 06/27/2006 8:49:00 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
California's prison system, once a model for the world, now is a hellish morass facing possible takeover by a federal judge. Yesterday Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called lawmakers into a special session to ponder his plan to essentially borrow and build the state's way out of the mess. It is too little, and it may be too late.
Before we get to the problems, it is important to note what is right about the governor's plan. For openers, he wants to build two or more prisons. With 172,000 criminals housed in a system designed for 100,000, we need more prisons, period. Lawmakers should build them with cash. Barring that miracle, at least Schwarzenegger's borrowing plan would be backed by a dedicated revenue source and would speed construction.
In addition, the governor would create a system of local, transitional jails to hold parolees for 90 days or so before release, thus relieving prison crowding and allowing inmates to learn job skills. Another program would convert a women's prison to hold men and send 4,500 low-risk women convicts to jails operated by private companies.
These all are very good ideas. But the prison system is suffering the effects of decades of bad management, political interference and outright corruption. No less than wholesale reforms will do.
An independent state review concluded a major reorganization is urgently needed. For instance, a dysfunctional health system leads to horrific lapses in care at some prisons. The juvenile system has been rocked with scandals and abuse.
A key finding was that lawmakers have given bosses of the prison guards union enormous control over day-to-day management. Sick leave abuses drive up costs. Important jobs are allocated according to senority instead of merit. And most of all, a union “code of silence” protects employees who abuse inmates.
The disastrous ability of guards to undermine their managers flows from the enormous political clout the union wields in Sacramento. Contributions and support from prison guards were key to the elections of governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis, and they helped defeat Schwarzenegger's reform initiatives last fall. In addition, the guards dominate the Legislature's public safety agenda.
Last year, Schwarzenegger persuaded lawmakers to reorganize the juvenile detention system, but the effort failed to address the fundamental problems of the wider system. In addition, the governor has largely retreated from his recall-era campaign promise to reverse a dramatic pay increase given to guards in 2003.
Worse, as a federal court investigator pointed out last week in a scathing report, Schwarzenegger since January has, much as Davis had, ceded control of the prisons to the union. Two top officials quit in disgust, the investigator said.
Now, with his re-election campaign well under way, Schwarzenegger is asking the Legislature to consider a prison construction program. Considering that lawmakers recently rejected a similar borrowing plan, the outlook is less than encouraging.
Prison farms. You don't grow it, you don't eat.
odd - the author never asked why CA has 172,000 people in prison.
If we would transfer all the illegal immigrants in our state prisons to federal prisons where they belong, the state prisons would be nearly empty.
Good thing they have that illegal alien problem under control there...
Arnies borrow today to make yourself look good to the idiot public and then stick it to them with interest tomorrow!
If it weren't for the union control of our entire government, we could have the prisoners build their own prisons.
Now that sounds crazy..after all, they could put in secret escape hatches, but its not that difficult. You have them do the physical work and have professionals manage and supervise the construction. You let the lower risk guys do construction and let the higher risk guys haul the rock, sand, gravel, etc in wheelbarrows.
Also, cut back on the nice things like A/C, TV, and things that just make life pleasant. Let them swelter in the summer and chill in the winter. It is good for them to suffer a bit.
When the 1/3 of our prison population that are illegal alien criminals are deported (wish, wish) then the prisons will not be overcrowded and they will not need more money or more prisons.
I believe there are approximately 650 prisoners on death row in California. I know a way they can make room for 650 new prisoners right quick.
It's not like borrowing for education or some social program.
Of course, if we can *pay* for them without borrowing that would be great.
Force the countries that the illegals came from to take them back AND IMPRISON THEM and there won't be any need for new prison.
If they would carry out death sentences and quit giving AHs like the one that murdered my mother life without parole there would be a lot more room also.
He's still borrowing for the general budget also.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.