In California, County Jails Face Bigger Load
August 5, 2012 | by Norimitsu Onishi | The New York Times
Spending years in jail instead of prison is an increasing possibility now, as California carries out the most far-reaching overhaul of its criminal justice system in decades. Ordered by the United States Supreme Court to reduce severe overcrowding in its prisons, the state began redirecting low-level offenders to local jails last October in a shift called realignment. Its prison population, the nation’s largest, has since fallen by more than 16 percent to 120,000 from 144,000; it must be reduced to 110,000 by next June.
Spending years in jail instead of prison is an increasing possibility now, as California carries out the most far-reaching overhaul of its criminal justice system in decades. Ordered by the United States Supreme Court to reduce severe overcrowding in its prisons, the state began redirecting low-level offenders to local jails last October in a shift called realignment. Its prison population, the nation’s largest, has since fallen by more than 16 percent to 120,000 from 144,000; it must be reduced to 110,000 by next June. However, built for stays shorter than one year, the jail does not offer the kind of activities, work programs and amenities found in most prisons.
Read more here about NCCD’s California Realignment Partnership program with the state’s counties.