Kalifornia Set to Cut Prison Inmate Population 27,000

Another present for Kalifornia citizens



Unfortunately, our state legislature is set to go back to work in Sacramento this week (and collect their %170 a day per diem). They are already planning their next bit of mischief. This Thursday, the Democrats (who hold a huge majority) want to shove through a measure that would reduce our prison population by 27,000 prisoners. This would reportedly save the state some $1.2 billion in revenue.

The Republicans are not in favor of this crazy plan, but it doesn't matter. During the recent budget negotiations (in which they sold out), it was agreed that the prisoner issue would be shifted from the budget deal (which required a 2/3 majority) to the regular prison budget package (which requires only a majority vote.) Thus, the Republicans can vote against the measure and save face.

It is estimated that California spends about $48,000 per annum on each prisoner while other states spend much less. (Florida spends less than $20,000 per prisoner.)

Under this plan, some 6,000 prisoners would get early release. Others would get a pass on certain parole violations. Larceny levels would go from $400 to $2,500 theft to qualify for a felony charge. There's more but, as you can see, a lot of this is smoke and mirrors. The point is, California's communities are about to get flooded with more dirtbags on the street. And if you think this won't result in more innocent people being killed, you are naive. We are presently reeling from the recent murder of a teenage girl in Los Angeles by a recently paroled thug who should have been locked away forever by the state's "3 strikes-you're out" law.

And don't delude yourself into thinking that they will just release those "non-violent drug offenders" you always hear about. California operates under a recently-passed Proposition 36, which sends arrested drug possessors and users to a diversionary treatment program. Those drug offenders in the state prison system are felony offenders who were dealing drugs. (Misdemeanor offenders spend their time in county jails.)

On the other hand, the state government refuses to do anything about the bloated bureaucracy, which also exists within the prison system. Nor will they do anything against the interest of the all-powerful prison guard union.

To make matters worse, our "Republican" Governor Arnold Katzenjammer is set to sign the bill.

So strike another blow to the gut for the quality of life in California. As long as we keep electing these far-left Democrats to state office, this will just continue. The question is how much money these released prisoners will cost us as they re-enter the penal system after committing more crimes. Ah, but that is for another day down the road. We need to do something now.

One can only hope that there will be some sort of tracking measure so that we can identify the beneficiaries of this release program when they are re-arrested. Look for the government to keep that bottled up in secrecy.