The Menace of California’s Overcrowded Prison System
The state of California had a huge population in states prisons. Dwindling budgets for the prisons also created a health crisis. Three policies, namely, The Public Safety Realignment Act (AB 109), Proposition 47 (Prop 47), and Proposition 57 (Prop 57), were initiated to curb the threat.
The AB 109 policy’s complex paroling system brings confusion on follow-ups on the offenders. Prop 47 lowers penalties, thus encouraging increased criminal activities. Prop 57 ignores an offender’s criminal history posing a threat in society. As a voter who supported both policies, I acknowledge the proper reception of information concerning these policies. But I decry the scanty details on their implementation. The titles of these propositions dot not align with their contents. Crime reduction is not well considered as they are more on cutting costs. The AB 109 fails to address the issue of petty offenders as there is no proper laid-out plan to determine positive change carefully and the probability reverting to old ways. The crime rates surged upwards because of Prop 47 and Prop57. The mechanisms they used lacked enough proof of the eligibility of the offender to deserve release. It is not worth using a decrease in crimes and to release offenders. Instead, their time in confinement and behavior improvement should be considered. The state of California and the whole country should invest in more prisons to rehabilitate offenders so as to beat crime in the society rather than easing penalties.
In conclusion, the measures put in place in California prisons cannot ease prisons’ congestion and reduce the crime rate.
I, therefore, recommend putting up more centers and employed personnel to help criminals change behavior.