Reforming California's prisons

By Editorial

California carries the distinction of housing the largest prison population within the United States. However, the recent declaration by a federal court that California must reduce its prison population by one-third may reverse that.

California prisons contain about 156,000 inmates, double their intended capacity. Plans call to cap that number at around 101,000 prisoners. California's State Legislative Analyst has suggested a variety of ways this monumental task can be accomplished.

The first is to prosecute drug possession crimes and forgery as misdemeanors instead of felonies, and to divert some criminals to intensive probation and community-based programs.

The second is to vastly reduce the amount of non-serious offenders in California's prison system by changing parole for these offenders from three years to one year.

Finally, the analyst suggests granting credits to inmates who complete rehab programs as well as early release to certain non-violent offenders.

While critics have likened this decision to an undeserved "get out of jail free" card that will flood the state with hardened criminals, the prisoners that will be affected are those that have committed minor infractions. If the decision successfully plays out that way, California's justice system will be able to use its resources to more effectively protect its citizens.

Reducing California's prison population to 101,000 will be difficult, but if it's done correctly, those who don't pose a menace to society will become productive citizens instead of prisoners on the state's dollar.