Report Capacity Challenges in California’s Jails By Magnus Lofstrom, Katherine Kramer Sep 27, 2012 In an effort widely known as "realignment,” California has given its counties enormous new responsibilities for corrections—including authority over many new types of felony offenders and parolees. Rather than go to state prison, these offenders now go to county jail or receive an alternative sanction. In the first few months of realignment, California’s jail population increased noticeably—but many jails were already facing capacity concerns. We find that some offenders who would have been incarcerated prior to realignment are now either not locked up or are not spending as much time in jail. Going forward, counties will need to consider a wide variety of approaches for handling their capacity concerns and their expanded offender populations.
press release Half of Likely Voters Favor Proposition 30—Support Slightly Lower for Proposition 38 Sep 19, 2012
Report Evaluating the Effects of California’s Corrections Realignment on Public Safety By Steven Raphael, Magnus Lofstrom, Joan Petersilia Aug 30, 2012 California has launched ambitious plans to change its corrections system. If all goes well, the state will become an important example of how to reduce the prison population and maintain public safety. This report provides guidelines on how to monitor the effects of realignment in such areas as recidivism, sentencing, and costs.
