Release Point: California’s Overcrowded Prisons
Continued overcrowding in California’s state prisons brought about a 2010 Supreme Court ruling that the state’s efforts to cram in more prisoners constituted cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment.
The state responded with legislation that shifts responsibility for state parolees to counties and redefines what constitutes a prison-worthy offense.
That realignment started Saturday. It continues for the next two years as the state tries to reduce its prison population by about 110,000 prisoners to 137.5 percent of capacity.
Release Point is Richmond Confidential’s continuing coverage of California’s AB 109 realignment bill. Check back each week for updates.