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Report

Impact of Realignment on County Jail Populations

By Steven Raphael, Magnus Lofstrom

Has California’s historic public safety realignment shifted the problem of overcrowding from state prisons to county jails? This report finds that the shift of most lower-level offenders to the counties has increased the statewide county jail population but decreased the overall incarceration rate. The authors also examine county-level factors outside the direct impact of realignment that help explain variations in jail population growth.

This research was supported with funding from the Smith Richardson Foundation.

Report

Is Public Safety Realignment Reducing Recidivism in California?

By Steven Raphael, Magnus Lofstrom, Ryken Grattet

Despite sweeping changes to the state’s corrections system, California has not seen dramatic changes in arrests or convictions of released offenders. Overall arrest rates are down. But convictions are up, likely a reflection of new prosecutorial processes. Multiple arrests are also up, possibly because released offenders are now spending more time on the streets.

This research was supported with funding from the Smith Richardson Foundation.

Report

Assessing the Impact of Bail on California’s Jail Population

By Sonya Tafoya

California's public safety realignment shifted many low-level felony offenders from state prisons to county jails. The resulting jail population pressures have reinvigorated the debate over bail reform. Proponents argue that reform would not only reduce the unsentenced jail population but also make the system more equitable. To help policymakers evaluate options for reform, this report examines variation in bail schedules and assesses the relationship between bail and unsentenced jail populations.

Report

Rethinking the State-Local Relationship: Corrections

By Dean Misczynski

California is pursuing historic changes to its corrections system. Key responsibilities will soon shift from the state to the counties. This report provides an overview of the changes, examines the funding issues, and considers what this shift in responsibility will mean for both state and county government.

This report is part of a PPIC series on rethinking the state-local relationship. The series includes:

This work is supported by funding from the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and by contributions of unrestricted support to PPIC's Donor Circle.

Report

California Probation in the Era of Reform

By Viet Nguyen, Ryken Grattet, Mia Bird

Recent reforms significantly altered the role of probation in California. In 2011, the state enacted public safety realignment, which shifted the management of lower-level felons from state prison and parole to...

Fact Sheet

Arrests in California’s Counties

By Magnus Lofstrom, Justin Goss, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin

Arrests vary substantially across the state, with rural counties often seeing higher arrest rates than urban counties. This fact sheet provides a snapshot of overall arrest rates, arrests for different offenses, and racial disparities in California’s diverse counties.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas

Californians name economic conditions, homelessness, and housing as the most important issues facing the state today. A majority of Californians favor changing state environmental regulations as a way to increase housing affordability.

Fact Sheet

Felony Arrests in California

By Magnus Lofstrom, Alexandria Gumbs, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin

After Prop 47, the share of California felony arrests fell. In this fact sheet we review the most common arrests, for violent offenses and property crimes, and discuss the disproportionate arrest rate of African Americans—who are more likely to be released without charges. Data also shows higher arrest rates in less populous areas and greater racial discrepancies in dense areas.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government

By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner, David Kordus

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Half of likely voters favor extending Proposition 30 taxes temporarily—most support cigarette tax increases.
  • Californians continue to view local water supply as a big problem, but feel better about the way people are responding.
  • Solid majorities of Californians see public pension spending as a problem and most think voters should weigh in on changes to the system.
  • Californians are more supportive of immigration reform, abortion rights, and stricter gun laws than are adults nationwide.

Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [PDF]
Governor Brown [PDF]
California State Legislature [PDF]
U.S. Congress [PDF]
Senator Boxer [PDF]
Senator Feinstein [PDF]
Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [PDF]
Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama [XLS]
Governor Brown [XLS]
California State Legislature [XLS]
U.S. Congress [XLS]
Senator Boxer [XLS]
Senator Feinstein [XLS]
Their Own State Legislators in the Assembly and Senate [XLS]
Their Own Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives [XLS]

Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [PDF]
Economic Outlook for California [PDF]
General Direction of Things in the United States [PDF]
Economic Outlook for the United States [PDF]

Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California [XLS]
Economic Outlook for California [XLS]
General Direction of Things in the United States [XLS]
Economic Outlook for the United States [XLS]

This survey was supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.

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