CA: Governor's aides stymied prison reform, ex-prison chiefs say

LA Times ^ | 12/21/06 | Jennifer Warren

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO — Two former prison chiefs handpicked by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday that election-year politics had thwarted their efforts to fix the crisis gripping California's correctional system, prompting them to resign in frustration earlier this year.

Testifying in federal court, the two corrections secretaries singled out the prison guards union and a pair of Schwarzenegger's top aides for most of the blame, saying the aides had given the union veto power over candidates for top jobs and a say in other key decisions.

One of the aides, Chief of Staff Susan Kennedy, said she planned to play a role this year in negotiating a new labor contract for the union, the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., according to testimony from Jeanne Woodford, who resigned as corrections secretary in April.

Woodford said she was surprised to hear that because negotiations typically are conducted by the Department of Personnel Administration.

--snip--

Beyond such events, Woodford said she thought her agenda for the department — one that included reform of the parole system, more education and drug treatment programs for inmates, and a fresh look at who goes to prison and for how long — clearly was not popular with Schwarzenegger aides consumed with his reelection.

In April, Woodford said, she laid out her plan for sentencing reform and other changes to the governor, recalling that he responded, "That sounds reasonable." But, according to Woodford's testimony, Kennedy and Aguiar told him, "Governor, it's an election year."

Hickman said he sensed a loss of momentum for reform in February.

[samtheman]

Let me guess.

Like the medical system, the prison system is flooded with new arrivals.