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| Revamp of Criminal Justice System |
| By sonoma.patch.com - Karina Ioffee |
| Published: 08/04/2011 |
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New law will redefine what constitutes a felony; place inmates into county probation instead of state custody once they've served their term Sonoma County is bracing for one of the biggest changes to the criminal justice system in the state’s history, a move that will send non-violent criminals as well as parolees to local jails starting this fall. It’s known as realignment and is comprised of a series of bills signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in July in response to a Supreme Court order to reduce crowding in California prisons. The goal is to reduce the state’s high recidivism rate—about 70 percent—by keeping non-violent offenders who’ve violated their probation out of state prisons, where they are more likely to become hardened criminals, and closer to home. Last year, for example, 47,000 inmates served 90 days or less in California prisons, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Each time an inmate is processed, they receive a physical exam and gang affiliation and mental health screenings, putting a strain on the state prison system. “The hope is that instead of staying in prison, people will be released sooner and put on an alternative program that will give them treatment options that will be better for them in the long run,” said Lt. Mike Toby, who is overseeing realignment for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. “If Sonoma County is committed to getting people rehabilitated, this is an excellent opportunity to do that.” The changes applies to inmates who have already served their time and are eligible for parole. It also only applies to new offenders whose crimes are non-violent and non-sexual, such as vehicle theft, drug sales, battery and second-degree burglary. Violent offenders will continue to be supervised by state parole. Read More. |
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