Supreme Court orders California to release tens of thousands of prison inmates

LA times ^ | May 23, 2011 | David G. Savage

[Mount Athos]

The Supreme Court ordered California on Monday to release tens of thousands of its prisoners to relieve overcrowding.

It is one of the largest prison release orders in the nation's history, and it sharply split the high court.

In dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia called the ruling "staggering" and "absurd."

Now, he said, the majority were ordering the release of "46,000 happy-go-lucky felons." He added that "terrible things are sure to happen as a consequence of this outrageous order."

[Liz]

In dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia called the ruling "staggering" and "absurd." He said the high court had repeatedly overruled the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for ordering the release of individual prisoners. Now, he said, the majority were ordering the release of "46,000 happy-go-lucky felons." He added that "terrible things are sure to happen as a consequence of this outrageous order." Justice Clarence Thomas agreed with him.

In a separate dissent, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said the ruling conflicted with a federal law intended to limit the power of federal judges to order a release of prisoners.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

It’s too bad an adult isn’t in charge in California.....

A conservative governor with the guts to tell the U.S. Supreme Court to go to hell and refuse to release the criminals.

[B4Ranch]

>>Release them over the Marianas.<<

Or Somalia.

[B4Ranch]

>>Now I know why I have 2 loaded handguns at my bedside.<<

Why not show you mean business and get a shotgun?

[Teacher317]

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, speaking for the majority, said California's prisons had "fallen short of minimum constitutional requirements" because of overcrowding. As many as 200 prisoners may live in gymnasium, he said, and as many as 54 prisoners share a single toilet.

Ummm, go to a Colts game, or any other sporting event. Lucas Oil Stadium, not yet 3 years old, has 1200 toilets and holds 63,000 for a game (expandable to 70,000 for some events). That translates to 53 people per toilet. Are NFL games unConstitutionally cruel and unusual, too?

[Teacher317]

State officials and lawyers for inmates differ over just how many prisoners will have to be released. In recent figures, the state said it had about 142,000 inmates behind bars, and the judges calculated the prison population would need to be reduced to about 110,000 to comply with constitutional standards.

The headlines are not nearly terrifying enough. 46,000 is not meaningful to most people. When you realize that is is 1/4 to 1/3 of ALL CA inmates, you get a real idea that it will not simply be pot-heads and white collar shysters that will get early release.

[GailA]

BINGO! look up recidivism stats...bad, bad, and worse. This one is from Memphis. Crime capitol of TN.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/mar/07/recidivism-rate-worse-study-finds/

[MinorityRepublican]

Yep. Releasing 46,000 criminals in California’s worst economy in 80 years.

[GailA]

Isn’t Charles Manson in prison out there, along with his helpers?

This is what you get when you elected libs, who appoint lib judges. Life With Out Parole is a JOKE! A fraud on the public and the victims.

It will also give other states the same idea, and criminals travel quite as easily as you or I. There is a stat some where for that.

I’ve been out of the crime stat tracking business for the past 8 years. Try http://www.ncpa.org/ they had some good stats, or http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/press/rpr94pr.cfm

Last stats I saw parolees and early released ‘good behavior’ committed about 6,500 homicides in 1 year. Forgot what the rape stats were, but they were high. Home invasions will go up, as will all other forms of crime.

[Einherjar]

The unintended consequences of the “sanctuary state”

enjoy it libs.

[CriticalJ]

Certainly going to help with those unemployment numbers and help out with the welfare payout.

[Del Rapier]

California has way too many non-violent offenders in prison for starters,figure who doesn’t belong there and release them if they are habitual drug users...who don’t rob to supplement their habit;let them go.

Honestly if a State wants to get tough on crime,either be willing to pay up for it or be willing to do anything stop them hitting the street again.

Ultimately these people were a part of society,they won’t disappear overnight.Or get hidden in some gulag in the most “liberal society” in America.

[delbertt]

I want all 46.000 released at the front door step of Ruth Buzzy ginsberg’s house.!!

[delbertt]

They let out only oppressed minorities (all whites).

[ReagansShinyHair]

HEY, DONALD TRUMP! How about ponying up for 46,000 tickets to right next door to the judges who voted for this?

[Fred]

For jobs, they can run for public office in the new open primaries.

[WOBBLY BOB]

it’s OK. there’s an app for that...

Cash for Convicts? Stimulus checks for first degree murderers
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/26044849/cash-for-convicts.htm

[rockrr]

I skimmed this story yesterday and (in my haste) thought they were referring to a CA state supreme court ruling, not SCOTUS. Stupid judicial rulings are the norm on the left coast but I held greater hope for the supremes.

So this decision affects more than just Kalifornia - it screws us all.