Comments on: Californians’ Priorities In Need Of Correction http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/prisons-prisoners/californians-priorities-in-need-of-correction/ The Law Office of Fresno Criminal Defense Lawyer Rick Horowitz Tue, 15 May 2012 02:11:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Amy Rupe http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/prisons-prisoners/californians-priorities-in-need-of-correction/comment-page-1/#comment-14037 Amy Rupe Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:52:21 +0000 http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/?p=281#comment-14037 I wonder if California has followed suit with many other states in regards to "privatisation" of our correctional facilities. If that is the case, it makes perfect sense why it doesn't work and why nothing is ever done to address the issues. A privately owned prison would be a cash cow! Make the inmates work for next to nothing to benefit the all mighty corporation! The whole system is flawed and utterly corrupt and I suspect it will remain this way until we get back to following the constitution AS IT WAS WRITTEN in 1776...not the swiss cheese version in use today...full of holes. I wonder if California has followed suit with many other states in regards to “privatisation” of our correctional facilities. If that is the case, it makes perfect sense why it doesn’t work and why nothing is ever done to address the issues. A privately owned prison would be a cash cow! Make the inmates work for next to nothing to benefit the all mighty corporation! The whole system is flawed and utterly corrupt and I suspect it will remain this way until we get back to following the constitution AS IT WAS WRITTEN in 1776…not the swiss cheese version in use today…full of holes.

]]> By: Madhatter http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/prisons-prisoners/californians-priorities-in-need-of-correction/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Madhatter Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:20:00 +0000 http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/?p=281#comment-33 Excellent article. The FACTS for a change. It's refreshing. Now, if someone could just figure out how to RE-educate Californians, especially the Legislator and the Governor, things just might get back on the right track. If California remains in the current downward spiral, it will not long survive. Not only are the wrong budget items being cut, the ones that should be cut are being left alone, starting with the legislators and their "perks". Excellent article. The FACTS for a change. It’s refreshing. Now, if someone could just figure out how to RE-educate Californians, especially the Legislator and the Governor, things just might get back on the right track.

If California remains in the current downward spiral, it will not long survive. Not only are the wrong budget items being cut, the ones that should be cut are being left alone, starting with the legislators and their “perks”.

]]> By: Frank Courser http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/prisons-prisoners/californians-priorities-in-need-of-correction/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Frank Courser Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:12:51 +0000 http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/?p=281#comment-32 It is unfortunately true that we allow such convictions. I also know a woman convicted and sentenced under Three Strikes. In 1989 she was with a boy friend that broke into three houses. Although she never entered the dwellings, she was an accessory. This was 5 years before Three Strikes was enacted. Ten years later in 1999 she also was found to have .09 gram of meth. That was strike three, and she was sentenced to 25 years to life. It would have been far cheaper to place her in rehabilitation even if she failed several times. She is going on her 10th year in prison at a cost of $42,287.00 dollars each year. Tax payers will have spent over a million dollars to keep her in prison after 25 years. For simple drug possession! Because of the rules of the California Department of Corrections, she is not eligible for the substance abuse program until 2 years before her date of parole. She will wait 23 years to be treated for her addiction. It is unfortunately true that we allow such convictions. I also know a woman convicted and sentenced under Three Strikes. In 1989 she was with a boy friend that broke into three houses. Although she never entered the dwellings, she was an accessory. This was 5 years before Three Strikes was enacted. Ten years later in 1999 she also was found to have .09 gram of meth. That was strike three, and she was sentenced to 25 years to life. It would have been far cheaper to place her in rehabilitation even if she failed several times. She is going on her 10th year in prison at a cost of $42,287.00 dollars each year. Tax payers will have spent over a million dollars to keep her in prison after 25 years. For simple drug possession! Because of the rules of the California Department of Corrections, she is not eligible for the substance abuse program until 2 years before her date of parole. She will wait 23 years to be treated for her addiction.

]]> By: Jo Nathan http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/prisons-prisoners/californians-priorities-in-need-of-correction/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Jo Nathan Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:35:21 +0000 http://fresnocriminaldefense.com/?p=281#comment-29 Not only are the financial implications of criminal penalties ludicrous, the idea that increased penalties somehow increases "rehabilitation" is not supported by evidence. What is it, an 80-90% recidivism rate? Any serious enterprise, such as a business or engineering operation would certainly be trying to find better ways to solve the problem. Only the government, who spends other people's money, and generally is not accountable can get away with persisting with a non-working system, when there is little evidence that incarceration works as a deterrent. Especially given that more than half of people incarcerated now are not violent offenders. My bet is that incarcerating those people just reinforces in their minds the that the criminal justice system is a joke and a game. How does this increase respect for the law and its observance? Not only are the financial implications of criminal penalties ludicrous, the idea that increased penalties somehow increases “rehabilitation” is not supported by evidence. What is it, an 80-90% recidivism rate? Any serious enterprise, such as a business or engineering operation would certainly be trying to find better ways to solve the problem. Only the government, who spends other people’s money, and generally is not accountable can get away with persisting with a non-working system, when there is little evidence that incarceration works as a deterrent. Especially given that more than half of people incarcerated now are not violent offenders. My bet is that incarcerating those people just reinforces in their minds the that the criminal justice system is a joke and a game.
How does this increase respect for the law and its observance?

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