Posted on 02/20/2007 2:44:55 PM PST by EagleUSA
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A judge Tuesday threw out Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to transfer thousands of inmates to other states to relieve prison overcrowding. Schwarzenegger said he would immediately appeal, saying dangerous convicts might otherwise have to be released early.
The governor invoked emergency powers in October when he ordered the Corrections Department to send thousands of inmates to private prisons in other states. Two employee unions, including the one representing guards, filed lawsuits alleging the order violated state law.
Superior Court Judge Gail Ohanesian agreed with the unions, saying that while prison overcrowding is dangerous, "this is not the type of circumstance generally covered by the Emergency Services Act."
Ohanesian delayed her ruling from taking effect for 10 days to allow the governor time to appeal.
"Today's disappointing ruling is a threat to public safety," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "I will not release dangerous criminals to relieve overcrowding. The transfer of inmates is imperative to relieve the pressure on our overburdened prison system."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
"I will not release dangerous criminals to relieve overcrowding. The transfer of inmates is imperative to relieve the pressure on our overburdened prison system."
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Why don't you transfer many of them back to Mexico where they came from -- that would HELP!!!
He'd be happy to release them anywhere but where they came from and Kalifornia.
No. They are where they need to be. Get rid of the unions and the bleeding hearts. Keep them in your own state and make the prisons pay for themselves. Make a product. Have them pick crops or something. Each prisoner would have to pay room and board, their victims back and support their families.
They need to put you in charge of the prisons!
Soylent Green is PRISONERS!
What will the Illegals do?
Building the wall. A job they should be doing, so Americans don't have to spend good tax dollars, doing what should have been done 20 years ago!
They have those prison farms in Louisiana. I think they are a very good thing.
Another day, another reason I'm glad I left Kal-EE-Forn-Ya.
I've always thought these places would make perfect prisons. Dam 'em up on both ends and screen off the top.
Plenty of water and natural habitat available with supplies dropped in on occasion by helicopter.
I know you definitely don't regret leaving California. I was reading some articles were some of the inmates said they didn't want to transfer because they are thinking they may be released due to overcrowding. I can't wait to see what the governor plans on doing with all this inmates.
Sheriff Joe ping.
I'm serious . These people have way too much time on their hands and you put them in large groups and it's trouble waiting to happen. No tv until you can buy one. No cable until you can afford it. Beans/rice and water on the house. If you want a hamburger and soda you have to pay for it.
A few of my favorite parts:
In October 2005, Arpaio started mandatory 2-week English classes for non-English-speaking inmates at his jails. Classes last 2 hours a day. The curriculum comprises the three branches of government, how a bill becomes law, state government, law enforcement and court services, and jailhouse "situational" terminology. At the end of the 2-week course, inmates are required to take a test to see how well they have learned about American government, the words to God Bless America, and the communication of health and safety needs. In response to critics, Arpaio responsed, "These inmates happen to be incarcerated in the United States of America and in Maricopa County where I run the jails, we speak English here, not foreign languages."
Shortly after taking office, Arpaio reinstituted chain gangs, the controversial form of inmate labor which had been virtually eliminated in the United States.Arpaio believes that chain gangs are not a form of punishment, but instead of rehabilitiation. Inmates who are low-risk but with a history of jail incidents can apply to serve as free labor. Inmates work eight-hours a day, six days a week (Sundays off), mainly outside. The inmates wear traditional black-and-white striped uniforms (see below for more details) with a cap to protect against the desert heat. Inmates perform such tasks as creating fire breaks, removing trash, and burying indigent persons in the county cemetery.
When Arpaio took office, inmates were routinely being released early due to overcrowding Arpaio believes that "courts, not head count" should determine when an inmate is released, and that no officer should be deterred from making an arrest for fear that the inmate would be released due to jail overcrowding.However, a new jail would have cost Maricopa County taxpayers around US$70 million. So instead, Arpaio obtained several used tents from the military, and established Tent City in a parking lot adjacent to one of the jail facilities, for a reported cost (mainly cement pads, fencing, and cooling fans) of around US$100,000. As an announcement to future inmates that they should not expect early release upon overcrowding, but more tents instead, Arpaio added a (pink neon) "Vacancy" sign to the outside of Tent City. The original sign was destroyed in an inmate riot, but was quickly replaced. A second Tent City was opened in 1996 adjacent to another jail facility, and houses female inmates.
During the summer of 2003, when outside temperatures exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit (higher than average, even for scorching hot Phoenix) Arpaio said to complaining inmates, "It's 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they have to wear full battle gear, but they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your mouths!"
In 2005, Arizona passed a law making it a felony, punishable by up to 2 years in jail, to smuggle someone across the border. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew P. Thomas has issued a legal opinion that those being smuggled can be considered co-conspirators to the smuggling and thusly can be charged under the same law. Under this opinion, Arpaio has instructed his deputies and members of his civilian posse to round up and arrest suspected illegal aliens. Arpaio said to Fox News, "My message is clear: If you come here and I catch you, you're going straight to jail. [...] I'm not going to turn these people over to federal authorities so they can have a free ride back to Mexico. I'll give them a free ride to my jail."
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