Last week, the state began implementing the worst law in 2009 that aims to cut the state's prison population by about 6,500 inmates over the next year. This law was part of the 2009 budget package that I strongly opposed, yet it passed through with a Democratic majority and was unfortunately approved by the governor. The stated goal of this plan was to reduce overcrowding and save money in the Corrections budget.
Since this plan was first introduced, I have had no doubt that this new policy would jeopardize our public safety. Unfortunately, this has already proven to be too true.
On Tuesday, February 3rd, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department released hundreds of prisoners earlier than scheduled in order to comply with the new standards. The inmates were classified as "non-violent" offenders, some of whom had even earned "good behavior credits." Less than 24 hours later, one of these inmates, Kevin Eugene Peterson, was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual battery, false imprisonment and violating the terms of his probation.
This criminal was sentenced in 2008 for assault with a deadly weapon but some how he was classified as a non-violent offender. If we are unable to tell who the dangerous criminals are, we have no business issuing get out of jail free cards.
That is why I have called for an immediate freeze on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's release of prisoners. As Vice-Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I cannot stand by and watch the saftey of California's citizens be compromised.
We know that some of the crimes that are not considered "serious" or "violent" include very disturbing offenses - human trafficking, stalking, child abuse and illegal weapons trafficking. These inmates can be eligible for early release to potentially commit new and even more violent offenses. The state's budget problems are no excuse to endanger anyone's safety.
We need to take a hard look at how we deal with the question of overcrowding. It is reprehensible to put the safety of Californians in jeopardy because we refuse to find a real solution.
Instead of implementing this law, the state should instead go after bloated prison bureaucracy and rising inmate health care costs that have far outpaced inflation and population growth. Every idea for restructuring must be on the table, including building cheaper modular prisons and allowing non-governmental businesses to deliver services such as inmate health care. Private business can play a significant role in reducing costs by billions of dollars each year. If California's costs were cut to the average of other large states, we could save up to $4 billion in taxpayer dollars a year, without releasing criminals early.
I remain committed to public safety and will do everything I can to ensure that law enforcement and the state prison system have everything they need to do their jobs effectively without compromising public safety.
