Tag: Prison Realignment

  • Study: Corrections Spending Up, Crime At Historic Low Under AB 109

    By Megan Burks The state is four years into its program to reduce prison overcrowding by shifting lower-level offenders to county jails and probation, and reducing some sentences. Lawmakers expected fewer people in prison would mean fewer costs, while critics expected a spike in crime. The nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California reported this week…

  • Effects of Prop. 47 Immediately Felt in San Diego County

    By Megan Burke, Tom Fudge, Peggy Pico Under newly passed Proposition 47, certain non-violent crimes would be lowered from felonies to misdemeanors. Those crimes include drug possession, petty theft, shoplifting, receiving stolen property and forging and writing bad checks. Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Greenberg said new misdemeanor cases would be handled by the San…

  • Study: Realignment Has Not Had Significant Impact On Arrest Rates

    By Marissa Cabrera and Peggy Pico Contrary to what some had feared, it looks like prison realignment has not had a significant impact on arrest rates in San Diego County. A new study by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) shows that 12 percent of adult arrests in 2012 involved someone on probation. That’s…

  • Second Opinion: How Do Former Inmates Sign Up For Obamacare?

    Conrad Harris helps former inmates get back on their feet. The process now includes getting signed up for Medi-Cal, which is open to childless adults under the Affordable Care Act. Video by Brian Myers, Media Arts Center San Diego. By Megan Burks Second Opinion is a weekly Q-and-A series that answers questions from San Diegans…

  • Former Inmates ‘Coming Home to Stay’ Thanks to Mid-City Group

    By Patty Lane and Peggy Pico Being incarcerated for years is punishment for a crime. But it is not a lesson in how to live in society. Prison realignment has shifted the responsibility of parole from the state to the counties. So, programs that help former inmates transition back into normal life are more important…