Legislation would Build New Prisons, Reentry Facilities and Officer Training Facility

As a part of the special session Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called to address the issue of prison overcrowding and recidivism, Senator George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) is introducing two of the Governor’s proposals to address these issues.  Runner is a leader on public safety issues and will serve as a member of the Select Committee on Prison Population, Management and Capacity committee, which will be holding hearings on the proposals.

 

Senate Bill 2x 1 proposes to build two new prisons and reentry program facilities through lease revenue bonds. Reentry program facilities with a maximum capacity of 500 beds will be built and placed in urban areas of California.  In addition, Runner will author a second proposal to establish a Southern California training academy for correctional officers.

 

"It is critical that we build new prisons in California.  Without it, the court may mandate the release of prisoners into our community.  This is a safety issue and I am committed to keeping our communities safe which is why I am authoring legislation to build two new prisons," said Runner.

 

As of June 2006, the prison inmate population totaled nearly 172,000. Currently, more than 16,000 inmates are being housed in buildings that were not designed as housing units and all capacity in these non-traditional spaces will be exhausted by June 2007.  In order to provide prison capacity beyond 2007, the new facility space must be created or the court may demand that prisoners be released early. "We need to lower current recidivism rates and one important step is to establish reentry facilities in urban areas throughout California. These secure facilities will provide an opportunity for parole and law enforcement to better coordinate supervision of the parolee while providing the necessary services to make their reentry more successful," said Runner. 

 

In 2005, over 120,000 inmates were released from state prison facilities and paroled throughout the state. Reentry facilities would place an inmate in a secure correctional facility within the community during the 90-day period prior to that person’s parole and would allow community organizations to provide wrap-around services both before and after their release on parole.  Placing an inmate in a secure correctional facility within the community prior to their parole into that community provides the opportunity for both parole and local law enforcement to better coordinate supervision of each parolee. "The state has a shortage of correctional officers and the legislative proposal to open a training facility in Southern California is critical to the state’s efforts to recruit and train new officers. Currently, the state only has one facility in Northern California and so it makes sense to open another facility in Southern California," said Runner. "I believe the High Desert would be a great location for this facility." Runner is also continuing to work with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to complete the process of changing the Los Angeles County State Prison into a reception center. The creation of the new prisons and bed space will expedite the conversion of the prison into a reception center.