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Calif. Must Plan to Release Up to 60,000 Inmates, Federal Panel Says

Posted Feb 9, 2009 7:26 PM CST
By Martha Neil

Although it's not yet a final decision, a special panel of federal judges ruled today that California must begin planning to release tens of thousands of state prison inmates over the next several years.

"California's 33 prisons hold about 160,000 inmates, nearly twice their designed capacity. The judges said they were prepared to impose a limit of between 120 and 145 percent of capacity, which would require 37,000 to 58,000 prisoners to be released," the San Francisco Chronicle writes.

The judges say they are confident the prisoners can be released without endangering public safety, the newspaper notes.

There is no other solution, the San Francisco-based panel found, to the overcrowding that unconstitutionally causes "conditions so poor that inmates die regularly," from suicides and lack of appropriate medical and mental health care, the Associated Press writes.

Related coverage:

Los Angeles Times (2007): "Judges to study cap on prisons"

ABAJournal.com (2008): "More States Weigh Early Prison Release Programs to Save Money"

Comments

1.

J.D.
Feb 9, 2009 7:50 PM CST

SF Chronicle: “The judges say they are confident the prisoners can be released without endangering public safety.”

Oh really….? Since when did judges become sociologists? And what if they’re WRONG? Who will be held accountable?

ANSWER: Nobody. Californians will be dead and raped, and the idiot-filled legislature will say nothing. The brain-dead judges will say NOTHING! They will feel NO responsibility.

I can assure you that if any of my friends or family are harmed as a result of this decision, I will PERSONALLY make sure these judges are held accountable.

Build more prisons! We need to “create jobs” says the President. So why not start building prisons? Or is this too logical of an idea for idiot libs? Why is the FIRST instinct of liberals always to flood our streets with perverts, druggies, and other trash?

If the gov’t cannot protect the People, the People will protect themselves. Is that what these judges want?

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2.

Mark
Feb 9, 2009 7:59 PM CST

The recidivist rate for ex prisoners is about 70% and I’m outraged that they are planning on doing this. But I hope that they release the most non-violent of them.

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3.

B. McLeod
Feb 9, 2009 8:09 PM CST

Careful, J.D.  When you take the oath and enter practice, “personally making sure that judges are held accountable” for injuries to your friends and family is an option you pretty much give up.  As a licensed attorney and an officer of the court, you (like all the rest of us) will have to learn to deal with and accept the decisions that go tragically wrong.  It goes with the territory.

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4.

jose
Feb 10, 2009 7:46 AM CST

In today’s world the only safe job is with the loca, state and federal government. lol which is probablly the cause of CA’s money problems which let these goons lose since they dont have money.

You go work for 20 years and u get a pension for life.  U can retire at 50 and doubletip by working again for a differenct county.

why anyone works anywhere else is beyond me.  working for the schools, the local munipalities, the police etc is like hitting the lotery

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5.

J.D.
Feb 10, 2009 9:01 AM CST

^ You’re right. It’s all part of the leftist plan to make people either dependent on, or part of the government.

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