Protecting Criminals From Uncomfortable Lliving Conditions At The Expense Of The General Population

Yesterday Breitbart.com reported that the Supreme Court of the United States has ordered the State of California to release 33,000 prisoners. 

An article posted at Hot Air reports:

“The Supreme Court on Monday endorsed a court order requiring California to cut its prison population by tens of thousands of inmates to improve health care for those who remain behind bars.

“The court said in a 5-4 decision that the reduction is “required by the Constitution” to correct longstanding violations of inmates’ rights. The order mandates a prison population of no more than 110,000 inmates, still far above the system’s designed capacity.

“There are more than 142,000 inmates in the state’s 33 adult prisons, meaning roughly 32,000 inmates will need to be transferred to other jurisdictions or released.”

The artaicle at Breitbart.com reports:

“Gov. Jerry Brown sought and signed a bill this year that would reduce the prison population by about 40,000 inmates by transferring jurisdiction for many low-level offenders to counties. The law is stalled until the lawmakers or voters authorize money to pay for the transfer. Much of the money is intended to help counties handle the responsibility of housing convicts.

“”As we work to carry out the Court’s ruling, I will take all steps necessary to protect public safety,” he said in a prepared statement.

“Several organizations, from the state prison guards union to the California State Association of Counties, backed Brown’s realignment plan–and the elusive funding–as the most practical way to comply with the court’s mandate.

“”If we don’t do it smart, we could have all those people come back for additional crimes,” said Chuck Alexander, executive vice president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association.”

This is not a good situation.  I am sorry that the prisons in California are overcrowded, but releasing criminals into the general population does not seem to be the correct answer to the problem.