Kent wrote on May 2, 2007 1:58 AM:We need to take a long, hard look at why people are going to prison. Is prison necessary for every crime? Perhaps some 'white collar' criminals can serve time at home with ankle bracelets rather than going to prison. The difficulty lies in the politicians who run on "law and order" platforms. Too many voters savor their "red meat" speeches without thinking through the consequences of sending more people to prisons that are already overcrowded.

Way Off The mark wrote on May 2, 2007 9:08 AM:This editorial was obviously written by someone with no street law enforcement experience at all. For you to write that Three Strikes is a bad thing, Prop 36 is a good thing, and parolees need to be coddled by not violating them on "technicalities" just shows how naive you really are. As a police officer, I will tell you that most parolees will re-offend, and it has nothing to do with what the State has NOT done for them, and everything with the choices they have made.parolees are violated because very often while they are out committing multiple burlgaries, car thefts, carjackings, etc, they can be very hard to catch, especially with too few police on the streets. therefore, whenever they are caught with drug paraphernalia, under the influence, in possession of burglars tools, they get violated. Why do you think they have those things? They are illegal to possess in the first place. parolees are NOT routinely violated for minor technicalities as you would have us believe, because if they were, the state would be a safer place. I encourage you to do a ride-along with your police departments before you regurgitate what you have read somewhere. Be objective and see what is happening on our streets for real, you may not like it. Before you keep blaming the system, start holding the felons accountable for their actions. People involved in rehab of prisoners certainly have their heart in the right place, and I really do hope that the people I incarcerate are going to make something better of their lives. The fact is, most of them won't. I wasn't born a bitter cynical cop. I still don't think I am, but I certainly see things realistically, and that is due 100% to my experiences with people on the streets, not by what other people have told me.

Gimme a break wrote on May 2, 2007 10:35 AM:Technical violations of parole? You have got to be kidding. We should only have obvious and serious violations then? If this is the case then why have parole? Serious violations are already on the books and usually run concurrent with parole violations. "Technical" violations like gang and substance conditions reel those in before they hit the bottom, again. Rehabilitation doesn't work for those who reject and discard the benefits. The only true and proven way to protect the community is to incarcerate and punish those who victimize others. Treatment is a gamble that is paid out by those who come home to a missing TV and stereo. Worse yet the bread winner who rides the bus to work because "someone in need of treatment" took his car for the third time in last four months. Wake up people. The predator can only victimize the predator in the controlled and safe environment of a penal instutution.

Taxpayer wrote on May 2, 2007 11:01 AM:In 1980 California had 21,000 people in prison, now we have 170,000. Much greater increase than our population due to draconian sentences and tough on crime policies that have led to the worst recidivism rate in the country. the crime rate isnt any worse but the incarceration rate is much higher. Rehabilitate and educate to reduce recidivism. Shorten the sentences of rehabilitated prisoners.

Gimme a break wrote on May 2, 2007 12:28 PM:Taxpayer, where do you get your stats on the crime rate of the 1980's? Remember, crack hit in the 1980's. Get your facts straight and don't build your argument on "non-facts."

i walked the line once. wrote on May 2, 2007 3:45 PM:I was sent to prison on charges that later proved up to be false and overturned. Durring my first year on parole the parole deparment tried to revoke my parole four times on aledged parole violation charges that were proven to be unfounded at parole revocation hearings. Each time the parole department tried to revoke my parole they violated my right to have a hearing within 45 days. Those alledged parole violations cost me 260 days in prison waiting for a hearing. Was my parole officer ever investigated or disiplined for make unfounded accusations? NO! Was I ever compensated for the original 16 months I spent in prison on a charge that was latter overturned? NO! Was I ever compensated for being assulted by sheriffs deputies or prision guards while in their custody? NO. How come the NCTImes did not print the article on the guy that was recently awarded two million dollars because a RCSD Detecive lied and sent him to prison on a life term for a rape he did not commit. After serveing twelve years. he was latter exonerated by DNA evidence. DO Cops D.A.s and Parole officers lie? YES!

Jill wrote on May 2, 2007 7:59 PM:I was very pleased to read your article on "Prisons deal won't do the job." I agree. Some of our leaders voted for this plan knowing it was a disgrace. I would say, "Shame on them", but instead I will say, "Shame on us". We are the ones who voted these "follow the leader", "can't think for myself", "don't want to hurt my career" politicans into office. They show no character with some exceptions. Mostly they want to seem tough on crime. To hell with what it may be doing to our society. Our youth are being incarcerated at an excelerated rate. What's behind this? Inmates are still dying, still stacked in hallways, gyms, etc. What will change?

WeAreAlldoingTime~~ wrote on May 3, 2007 5:08 AM:This half-hearted effort at prison reform,will definately be seen by the Federal Judges,as they swiftly take over,this completely failed system !!

Leah wrote on May 3, 2007 11:32 PM:Once again I ask, how does adding 53,000 beds without sentencing and parole reform solve the problem of overcrowding? It will take years and years to add these beds, if that would be the solution. So in the meantime what is being done? This is a farce and we have been scammed without having a single word to say on it. But they sure don't hesitate to take our children and grandchildren's money!

Benzo213 wrote on May 4, 2007 12:24 PM:Just because some of you here are Police Officers it doesn't mean you actually know the law. You're not attorneys or Judges and your personal comments only reflects how little you really know about our laws. Parolees are sent back to our street with $200.00 in their pocket upon being released and if they are lucky they have someone waiting to pick them up otherwise they will have to pay for their train or bus ride out of the $200.00 they just received. So the State doesn't do everything they can to help these people become productive citizens. They get no vocational or job training. Businesses wont hire an ex-con let alone a parolee. Parolees, not all, but most are left to find a means of support for themselves. There is a way to end the high recidivism rate for parolees. They need to be trained and educated. The State needs to give business incentives for hiring parolees or ex-cons. This is a great editorial written by someone that has done some research into this. The Three Strikes law needs to be repealed, bottom line. Three Strike alone has created the majority of the over crowding. Now, back to the topic at hand...this prison bill will do nothing to ease the overcrowding mess. The people of California got duped by our legislators on this one. They passed this without having the people of California approve the huge dollar amount. 7 Billion dollars....ISN'T THE STATE IN A HUGE DEFICIT?

I walked the line once. wrote on May 4, 2007 5:01 PM:Some prsion releases are given two hundred dollars. I took my alledged parole violations to a parole revocation hearing four times. Each time I won so I was given twenty dollars. If I would have lost I would have received $1.00/day I was in up to the max of two hundred dollars. The last time I was released after winning my case I was dumped out at a bus stop with $20.00 a white T-shirt and a pair of Kaki prison pants. No coat, socks or shoes and I had caught phnemonia while waiting 60 days for my hearing.

Ava wrote on Apr 26, 2008 7:15 PM:The whole prison system is broken, and needs to be overhauled more and more inmates are being hurt and sometimes killed not only by other inmates but also by the guards themselves. In turn the officals turns a deaf ear to the problems that are taking place. We as parents of these inmates want our family members to be treated with respect and dignity. We want truthful answers, about our families and not some lame excuse that you, the system think we should take as truth.

krrjr wrote on Sep 1, 2008 10:46 AM:If you can prove someone lied to send you to prison is there recorse steps that can be taken? I guess its done all the time in sex offences. What if you can prove the cops were in on it too?

krrjr wrote on Sep 1, 2008 11:51 AM:Is there a stat showing the difference between the percentage of paroll violations sex offenders make and is that prejudice concerning the crime?