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| Schwarzenegger reverses position on prisons inspector |
| By Contra Costa Times |
| Published: 02/16/2004 |
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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed direction Feb. 6 and recommended fully funding an independent watchdog of the state's prisons, expanding its authority and keeping it separate from the agency it monitors. In addition, the governor asked the U.S. Attorney's Office to investigate an April 2002 riot at the Folsom State Prison that left 17 inmates and prison officers injured. The moves come amid mounting criticism of the state's inability to reform its prison system, control the influence of the officers' union and root out corruption. The grave problems within the Department of Corrections have spilled into public view in recent weeks, with legislative hearings producing allegations that prison officials attempted to cover up the riot and a federal court monitor reporting that the state has lost control of its ability to discipline officers. Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, who along with Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, conducted recent hearings into prison problems, hailed the governor's change in heart. Just two weeks ago, Schwarzenegger defended his plan to cut funding of the Office of the Inspector General and put the office under the authority of his corrections secretary, Roderick Hickman. At a Jan. 27 luncheon with reporters, Schwarzenegger called the office "a waste." His January budget proposed slashing funding for the agency. Speier, who criticized the plan, said the governor is now on the right track. Schwarzenegger will now recommend a $3.3 million budget for the inspector general, the same amount as the current year, and seek to expand its powers, said Peter Siggins, his legal secretary. The governor wants the inspector general, which has largely audited finances, to have the same tools as other law enforcement agencies, from being able to issue subpoenas to cooperating with grand juries, Siggins said. The governor reversed his position after seeing what the Senate hearings uncovered, getting advice from Hickman and exploring the state institutions involved, Siggins said. |
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