Dec 11 2007
Californians Could Vote on Sweeping Prison Reform Measures
GUEST: Annie Smith, Executive Director of Families United for Prison Reform
California voters could face two ballot prison reform measures next Fall. The Sentencing and Parole Reform initiative includes provisions that would repeal the “Three Strikes” law. And the Prisoner Rights initiative would, among other things, amend California’s penal code to expand prisoners’ visits with family members and news media. The measures will make it onto the November 2008 ballot if they garner signatures of at least 434,000 registered voters next February. A Southern California based non-profit group, Families United for Prison Reform, has begun gathering signatures since this past September. The number of inmates in California prisons has soared over the years, from nearly 25,000 in 1980 to more than 170,000 this year. This state has an incarceration rate of 475 per 100,000 residents, well above the national average of 445 per 100,000. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s state budget for 2007-2008 allocates $10 billion for prisons, compared to $12 billion for higher education.
For more information, visit www.californiaprisonradio.org or call 951-210-9149. To help gather signatures for these initiatives, call 323-864-3078.
One Response to “Californians Could Vote on Sweeping Prison Reform Measures”
My son is in Corcoran State. His first offense,
I need to get invovled with reforming the prisons.
Where do I begin?
How can we get Federal Govt. in Corcoran. One hundred and fifty African Americans are on lock down because of a riot with the Whites.
However, i’m not able to get all the information. It’s been over a month. Although, I haven’t read the article yet, from personal experience I KNOW
Racism is encouraged in prison. The blacks, whites,asians, and hispanic or segregated from each other.
The young or first time offeners in that have a chance at being reformed or put in the same area with inmates
that have nothing to lose, if they cause problems. We NEED CHANGE NOW!