Governor joins the fight to prevent early release of criminals

Senator George Runner

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined law enforcement officials from across the state and Republican legislators to warn of the dangers that early release of felons or a prison population cap could have on California communities. Standing with public safety officials who have or will petition to be a part of the case, the Governor pointed out the consequences of releasing criminals into our communities before they have served their sentence and urged the panel to give prison reform time to work.

"We must be given adequate time for our prison reform package to work. Earlier this year I worked with members of the Legislature to develop a comprehensive prison reform package to ensure dangerous criminals are kept behind bars and that our rehabilitation programs are effective in reducing recidivism," said Governor [view:node_ad=5]Schwarzenegger.

In July, a three-judge panel was formed based on motions granted in prison medical care and mental health care cases by two judges. In the coming months, this panel will hear evidence related to prison overcrowding and health care, the result of which could be an order for the early release of thousands of dangerous criminals into our communities or a population cap that would prevent prisons from housing convicted criminals.

"AB 900 attacks our recidivism rate, which is the highest in the nation, by bringing rehabilitation back to our prison system. This will protect the public because inmates who are committed to turning their lives around will have more opportunities when their terms end," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Much of that rehabilitation will be done in the secure re-entry facilities we are building in partnership with California communities."

And in the middle of this prison fight, a separate issue regarding enhancing criminal rights has legislative Republicans up in arms.

The Democrat-controlled Senate has approved two measures that would give increased rights to convicted felons.  One measure, Assembly Bill 508, authored by Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, D-Oakland, would give taxpayer-funded food stamps to convicted drug felons, including growers, traffickers and dealers. Republicans blasted the idea, saying that food stamps should be reserved for the truly needy who depend upon them, not “drug felons looking to further their dangerous habit.”  

Another measure that passed the Senate today and opposed by Republicans was Assembly Bill 1334, also authored by Assemblyman Swanson, which would allow for the distribution of condoms to prison inmates.  Republicans argued this would only encourage inmates to engage in sexual activity that is already illegal in prisons. They also said; “prison time should be about serving time and paying one’s debt to society, not having a good time.”

“It's incredible that in a legislature that has so many serious issues facing us and facing the citizens of California, we’re taking time to even consider the issue of what we need to do in order to make sure that our convicts and inmates have safe sex,” said Senator George Runner, who represents the Santa Clarita area. Runner went on to call the idea “Wrong headed.”