Wednesday, June 10, 2020

PROPOSAL TO CLOSE SOME CA STATE PRISONS GAINING STEAM

by Bob Walsh

A combination of various factions is leading to a greater probability that two prisons in the formerly great state of California will be shutting down in the foreseeable future.

The Governor's May budget proposal suggested a budget of $13.4 billion for the CDCr.  Closing two facilities is expect to save the state maybe $400 million.  

Nobody is saying which prisons may be on the chopping block but it is widely known that San Quentin is the facility that costs the most to operate per prisoner.  In addition the real estate if very valuable, though demolition costs would be considerable.   Also, some parts of the prison are registered historic sites and could not be demolished.  

Interestingly enough the governor is NOT in favor of defunding the police.  He is, however, a big proponent of moving many of the current responsibilities of the cops away from them and to other groups, i.e. mental health professionals and social workers.  I guess if some woman is having the shit beat out of her by her registered domestic partner she would be OK with hanging around until a rapid response marriage counselor arrives on scene.  And if she isn't, she damn well should be. 

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