Perata and Nunez Send Joint Letter to Schwarzenegger on Prison Bill to be Voted on Tomorrow

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The California State legislature will be voting on a multi-billion dollar prison construction program tomorrow in a bill that is expected to be sent to the Governor before the end of the week. The Assembly will vote first at an unusual 8:30 a.m. session followed by the Senate at 10:30 a.m.

Late this afternoon Senator Perata, President pro Tem of the Senate and Speaker of the Assembly Nunez sent the following letter to the Governor outlining some of the differences that have surfaced in negotiations over prison overcrowding and other issues in the state’s penal system.

There will be more information on the legislation being voted on shortly.

April 25, 2007

Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: Prison Reform Package

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

We are sending you comprehensive prison package but at the same time must outline some of the fundamental issues that have come to light primarily through the work of Senate and Assembly Subcommittees.

The Legislature wants a comprehensive prison reform plan that provides the public safety the public expects and deserves.

Between sixteen and seventeen thousand inmates are sleeping in gymnasiums, dayrooms, classrooms and hallways which poses a risk to the inmates and staff at institutions.

The Legislature does not want a court takeover of the system; it is the responsibility of Administration in conjunction with the Legislature to solve this prison morass. But, we will not blindly give a blank check and throw good money after bad. That’s happened before resulting in a billion dollars wasted on drug treatment, seventy percent recidivism and a court takeover of medical care.