NCJ Number
52510
Editor(s)
J SIMON
Date Published
1978
Length
146 pages
Annotation
A SUMMARY IS PROVIDED OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS GENERATED BY AN EVALUATION OF CALIFORNIA'S CORRECTIONAL NEEDS IN TERMS OF PRISONER POPULATIONS, FACILITIES, INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS, AND WORK AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
Abstract
ON THE BASIS OF THEIR 5-MONTH EXAMINATION OF WHETHER THE STATE SHOULD APPROPRIATE $120 MILLION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PRISON BED CAPACITY, THE CONSULTANTS CONCLUDED THAT NO EXPANSION OF EXISTING BED CAPACITY IS WARRANTED BECAUSE PRISONER POPULATION PROJECTIONS FORECAST, AT MOST, A MODEST RISE IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT EXISTING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES ARE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE ANTICIPATED POPULATION INCREASES. HOWEVER, THE CONSULTANTS RECOMMENDED THAT A NEW PRISONER CLASSIFICATION LEVEL BE INSTITUTED TO ALLOW PRISONERS WITH NO CURRENT OR PRIOR CONVICTION FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES, THE SALE OR POSSESSION OF DRUGS, OR A HISTORY OF DRUG ADDICTION OR ESCAPE TO BE CLASSIFIED AS LOW MINIMUM SECURITY. THESE LOW MINIMUM SECURITY PRISONERS, ALONG WITH THE APPROPRIATE PRERELEASE PRISONERS, COULD THEN BE PLACED IN LOCAL ALTERNATE MODES OF INCARCERATION. FURTHER, WITH REGARD TO THESE ALTERNATIVE MODES, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE STATE CONTRACT WITH COUNTIES FOR AT LEAST 1,000 BEDS IN SPECIALIZED LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND ALSO CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE AGENCIES FOR UP TO 1,000 BEDS IN HIGHLY STRUCTURED LOCAL CORRECTIONAL CENTERS. DATA SOURCES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA. SEE ALSO NCJ 52509, 52511-52513. (KBL)