Yes on 5

Considering the abysmal condition of budgets and prisons in California, let’s encourage a plan that provides the state (not the criminals) with its own “get-out-of-jail-free” card. By supporting Proposition 5, the Nonviolent Offender and Rehabilitation Act of 2008 (NORA), California voters will see an effective follow up to previous ballot efforts to reform the state’s prisons. By emphasizing treatment over incarceration, this proposition establishes fundamental change in California. It calls for dropping prison populations by committing to rehabilitation and reducing sentences for non-violent offenders. Most importantly, non-partisan sources expect this measure to save the taxpayers from the billions necessary for future prison construction.

It’s about time for the state with the highest recidivism rate (70%) and second highest prison population to commit to the biggest prison reform in US history. In 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger seemed ready to act by rebranding the Department of Corrections as the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Years later, however, the California penal system is still in shambles.

On average, California state prisons operate at double capacity as the Golden State incarcerates a higher number of people than the entire Northeast region of the United States. A soaring prison population, however, strains the resources required for the successful and safe operation of the state system. While the population crisis first and foremost affects the well being of inmates, it also threatens state prison employees, worries legislators, and expenses the California public.

Proposition 5 confronts this pressing state issue and forces a revaluation for policymakers. Currently, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) operates 33 facilities, ranging from minimum to maximum security, with optimum total capacity near 100,000. Despite this threshold, the CDCR recently reported a state prison population over 172,000.

With an excess of prisoners under the jurisdiction of the CDCR, every prison in the state is operating over capacity pushing the population crisis to the front of the agenda. As a result of overcrowding, normal prison issues intensify. Inadequate care plagues a system responsible for rehabilitative services. Prison facilities are challenged to find sufficient space to house incoming inmates so they shuffle beds through gyms, hallways, libraries, classrooms and vocational workshops.

It’s impossible to expect rehabilitative and medical programs to keep pace with the overpopulation if accommodation is the main concern. Although some prisons still offer educational and vocational services, the majority of prisoners sit idle brewing a more hostile environment that accentuates the pains of imprisonment. Prisoners must wait longer to use facilities such as showers and recreation spaces, and without individual cells they lack much privacy. In addition, the number of prison staff fails to meet the expected ratio for so many inmates.

With this laundry list intensifying by the day, Proposition 5 serves an essential purpose. Overcrowding is addressed by reducing criminal consequences for non-violent offenders and recidivism is addressed by increasing treatment behind bars. Although such programs will initially cost California, the State could save $1 billion on reduced prison and parole operating costs.

Fierce opponents, powerful voices of reason such as US Senator Diane Feinstein, the Los Angeles Times and Attorney General Jerry Brown overlook the positive effect of Proposition 36. This measure emphasized the importance of treatment and since 2000 it has graduated 84,000 and saved California almost $2 billion. Support for the NORA campaign spreads across hundreds of medical, mental health, youth, labor, faith, and community organizations. Supporters include political activist George Soros (who committed the $1 million to get this proposition on the ballot) and include the California Democratic Party, California Labor Federation and the League of Women Voters.

Since California often takes the lead in confronting American policy dilemmas (i.e. global warming), voters should again recognize the unique opportunity presented by this measure. It’s time for a mix up in the system – that’s why Proposition 5 deserves a YES from California voters on November 4.