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| California Gov. Vetoes Bill on Early Prison Release |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/31/2003 |
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Gov. Gray Davis has vetoed a bill aimed at saving $70 million a year by offering early-release work credits to some nonviolent prison inmates. Calling the measure well-intentioned, the governor vetoed the bill late March 17, saying it would remove a key incentive for getting inmates to participate in work details or job or education training. Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, a former prosecutor who was one of the first in the Legislature to raise a red flag on the bill, applauded the veto. 'Releasing violent criminals early from state prison is not a solution to the state budget crisis,' Spitzer said. 'Public safety should be our first, not our last, priority.' The work-credit program, available to nonviolent offenders, is used to encourage inmates to perform productive work duties or to gain new job skills. By successfully completing the program, an inmate can reduce his prison term. Currently, some inmates who qualify for the program cannot participate because of space limits or because they are housed at a facility that does not offer the training. The bill Davis vetoed would have allowed inmates who otherwise qualify for the program to earn the work credits even if they were not enrolled. In his veto message, Davis said he did not believe it would be fair to grant the credits to anyone not doing the work. |
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