http://www.californiaprisonreform.org/home.html
Our Mission - Families United for Prison Reform
To employ all manner of effective action toward the reformation of the entire California justice system.
Families United for Prison Reform is a California public benefit nonprofit corporation. We are currently sponsoring two initiatives for the 2008 General Presidential Election in California. These initiatives have received their official Title and Summary from the Attorney General on September 27. We have until February 25, 2008 to collect a minimum of 433,971 signatures to qualify for the ballot.
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There has been much discussion about releasing inmates “early” to reduce costs and ease overcrowding. The inmates being considered for this early release are said to be “non-violent” and pose minimal risk to the community if released. Of the many questions this subject raises, these two must top the list…
1. How is it being determined that the inmates are “non-violent”? (Will psychologists interviewed them and provide a written assessment of danger; will “previous” violent criminal activity be factored in, or only their current status; exactly how is “violent” to be defined)
2. How can it be justified to release an inmate “early” when there are literally thousands of inmates currently being held years, and even decades, beyond their eligible parole dates? (Inmates who have already been cleared by psychologists and are eligible for immediate release. Interestingly, there is no such thing as “early release” for an inmate who has long ago surpassed his or her “minimum eligible parole date”)
In an ongoing Santa Clara county court case, the files of nine-thousand (9,000) indeterminately sentenced inmates, who are currently eligible for parole, were reviewed as part of the evidence. The review found that in 100% of the cases, the state had inexplicably denied parole to each and every one of the inmates, despite their current eligibility for parole. (Note: The inmates reviewed only account for about 40% of the total number of inmates in this category)
Almost all of the inmates in this category are over forty-years-old, and a great many are in their 50’s and 60’s. Some even in their 70’s and 80’s, with significant health-care issues.
Does it really make sense to release drug-addicted gang-members without parole plans or even enough life skills to get a job; while at the same time holding thousands of rehabilitated inmates? Inmates who have been assessed by psychologists and confirmed to be truly “low risk”, who have actual parole plans and job skills.
Clearly the time has come to make a decision. Who would you prefer to have in your community?