[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Democratic lawmakers have accused a component of the state correctionsagency of scuttling rehabilitation in a $7.9 billion plan to deal with California's prison crisis. AB 900 states that funding preference should jails should go tocounties that agree to site rehabilitation-focused prisons for paroleviolators and inmates serving the last months of their terms.

Hillary Clinton has surprised all with her thorough preparednessas first lady and on this campaign, according to the LA Times. "She wasforceful and methodical in shaping the Clinton administration'sdomestic policies and political strategy, and proved to be adisciplined partner to her famously disorganized husband: commanding,opinionated, daunting."

So as it turns out, tracking sex offenders by satellite for life isn't practical. Who knew! "I don't know of any agency thathas the resources to track and monitor... in real time," said VacavillePolice Chief Richard Word. Actually implementing Proposition 83 maytake years -- let's work on flying cars first.

Image courtesy of Howstuffworks.com 

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Kate L McLaughlin

Several years ago on the streets of San Francisco, my husband Mark and I simultaneously experienced both sides of a controversial issue. Our son Michael, freshly released from a psychiatric hospital where he’d received treatment for Bipolar Disorder walked with us. Much improved but still struggling with anxiety, low-level mania, and paranoia, he began to unravel as the day grew long.

Knowing we needed to get Michael back to the hotel, we decided to grab an early dinner. Just outside the restaurant the three of us encountered a homeless man who clearly suffered from symptoms much like Michael’s. Propelled by some magnetic force, these two young men gravitated toward one another with aggressive posturing and angry words. Had Mark not been present to intervene and lead Michael away, violence would have ensued. Instead, however, we guided our son toward greater calm while the other fellow spiraled out of control, his loud rantings echoing through the street until someone eventually called the police. Two young men. Both ill. One, with support, walked away. The other, on the street and alone, went to jail.