NCJ Number
239073
Date Published
June 2012
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the latest data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) regarding new prison admissions covering the third and last quarters of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, so as to compare prison admissions before and after "realignment," which is a statutorily mandated effort to reduce the State prison population by redirecting non-serious, non-violent, non-sex offenders from incarceration in State prison to supervision by local jurisdictions.
Abstract
The State prison population is declining according to expected projections. Within the first 8 months of realignment, the CDCR has already progressed two-thirds of the way toward the goal of reducing inmate populations by 40,000 by 2017. Generally, counties that have historically relied on incarceration in sentencing offenders are experiencing larger reductions in their imprisoned populations and new commitments to State prison. In addition, the reductions are apparently occurring mainly within the low-level offender categories, rather than the more violent, serious offenders. Still these trends toward reduced inmate populations are not consistent among California's 58 counties. Eighteen of the 58 counties have had declines of more than 50 percent in the number of new inmates committed to CDCR facilities since realignment was implemented. On the other hand, 30 counties showed lower than average reductions in prison commitments, with 7 counties showing increases. County reductions in their prison population also differed radically across the State. The counties with the least reduction in State prisoners, however, were usually those that had lower rates of State imprisonment prior to realignment. One of the key goals of realignment is to enable counties to devise strategies that more effectively reduce recidivism and manage lower level offenders at less cost. 3 tables, 2 figures, and 6 references