Prison plan could derail budget, lawmaker says

The leader of the Assembly's Republicans, Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo, threatened this afternoon to back away from the budget deal he helped negotiate as details emerged of a plan to reduce the population of state prisons by 27,000 inmates. 

The plan would grant state officials the authority to let inmates complete their sentences on home detention, enable them to earn six weeks off their sentences for completing rehabilitation programs and make other changes to save $1.2 billion as part of the state budget package.

After The Times reported on the proposal this afternoon, Blakeslee sent members of his caucus an e-mail with the heading, “Budget Double-Cross?” and suggested that he knew nothing of the plans. 

Blakeslee, who agreed to the deal with the prison savings in it, told members that those details were supposed to be ironed out “in the light of day” in August, well after the budget would have been approved.

Referring to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), he wrote: “I have called and personally told both Karen and Darrell that there will be no Republican votes for any portion of the budget if they allow such a bill to be part of the package.”

Unedited text of Blakeslee e-mail after the jump...

Subject: Budget Double-Cross?

Throughout budget negotiations we insisted that republican votes would never be provided for a budget deal that included early release of prisoners.

Our caucus and staff developed a cut strategy for corrections that provided the necessary savings to close the deficit without risking public safety.

We had a clear understanding with the democrats that NO corrections bill would be a part of the budget and that we would have an honest chance to contest the policy issues in the light of day in August. 

Just two hours ago I learned from staff that Senate democrats are concocting a radioactive corrections bill that includes the worst of the worst -- sentencing commission and release of 27,000 prisoners, etc

When I spoke with Dennis he was as surprised and upset as I was regarding what appears to be a serious breach of the agreement in the Big 5.

I have called and personally told both Karen and Darrell that their will be no republican votes for any portion of the budget if they allow such a bill to be part of the package.

I will keep you posted.

Sam

--Michael Rothfeld in Sacramento

Assembly Minority Leader Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, talks to reporters as he walks into a budget meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other legislative leaders at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, July 15, 2009.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Comments

[MIguel Garibay]

I personally believe that the release of first-time, non-violent offenders that are imprisoned due to the three strikes law, in order to save some costs in this time of serious fiscal crisis is ok. I also think that those that are currently in prison in a susbtance abuse program and have probe to have change their behavior should be released. I thinnk that Drug Rehab program in the community are less expensive and more succesful than the current programs in the prisons. It is very expensive to have people in jail, so I could see saving the money on a careful, case by case basis.

[Amerikan]

Ah yes.....the typical Repub attitude....
Who cares if our children have health care...or education....or have enough to eat......
Or our elderly can afford their meds...or their rent....
Must keep those awful criminals locked up for every single minute of the sentences.....at ALL costs!!
Unless of course....they are a Republican.....
As long as you are a Republican lawmaker, cop, judeg, etc, and can AFFORD it, you won't ever see the inside of a jail cell....or a food line...or ever have to sleep a night on the street....
MUST keep criminals locked up for EVERY minute of their sentence....even if they stole a loaf of bread to feed their famillies or got caught with a MEDICAL maijuana joint.....they MUST be punished!!!!

[anon]

Do you get it yet?

The Republicons have NO plans to pass a budget for California.

They blocked a deal worked out on June 30.
And now, suddenly, they've found a flaw in a deal they agreed to yesterday.

They do not want CA to pass a budget.
They want to force CA into insolvency to torpedo any Hopes of a recovery in an Obama Presidency.

This is the big get-even for McCain's loss.

But this isn't 1992.

This time, If people take it to the streets, the "unrest" may end up on the streets of formerly safe enclaves of the Republicons that pushed CA over the brink.

[steinerla]

Why are Republicans so willing to throw schools under the bus but protect the prisons?

[D.Woodward Van Nuys.]

Just take all of those 27.000 prisinors and let live in the Governors homes.Arnold will deserve it.

[Gorefan]

It is time to let California go into the meltdown.

[larry]

Is there absolutely no limit to the irresponsibility of California Republicans? Have they no shame?

[Tom]

This is the height of irresponsible government. I am furious that our lawmakers think that this is a plausible way to balance the budget. Of all the services our tax dollars should go towards, the public's safety is paramount - and dumping 27000 prisoners onto the streets is a horrendous violation of the trust of the people. If this budget is passed as is, I will not only vote against every lawmaker who votes for it, I will begin to actively work against them as well.

[bditman]

This Democratic led Legislature has been a disaster. Who do they think they are??? Why can't they understand that there is only so much money? Period. They've been handing out cash to their special interest political payola (union) machines for so many years now they can't even remember how to count. We need a part time Legislature made up of citizens, not a full time house of panderers. Why do you think they embarrass the entire country with their spending and taxing. No matter what the people say with their votes - remember March 19? - these clowns will pull a fast one. These dirty rats should be tossed out. Now!

[Dr. B. Cayenne Bird]

Sam Blakeslee is doing a good job of representing law enforcement labor unions but he is certainly not representing we, the people, of California. There are 80,000 people incarcerated on minor, non violent parole violations who could be released right now, people who shouldn't have been sent to prison in the first place. What the Repubs did was destroy our state by foisting harsh laws via initiative campaigns based on lies mostly, that had no funding sources. So the money to keep people locked in inhumane conditions is coming from human services and education. Due to the 2/3 vote, Repubs like Blakely have blocked all reforms for more than a decade that could have prevented the current fiscal and humanitarian crisis. We have 785,000 people in juvenile hall, prison, jail or on parole yet violent crime has changed very little since the 1960's. It is very important to recognize that it is the Repub politicians who overbuilt the prison industry and destroyed our state. There is no money to properly care for the inmates, the lawsuits will sink us even further from preventable deaths. Everything must be done to get the Repubs who are owned by law enforcement labor unions out of power. Voter registration in poor neighborhoods is a good place to begin.

[WeRalldoingtime]

Releases are necessary ! there should have been more than 29,000 releases,it would have saved the tax payers billions!!! The prisons are still dangerously over crowded,there are hundreds of prisoners in jails,waiting for a prison jail cell to become available. WE will be back to facing the same problems all over again ! The state has been transferring prisoners to out of state prisons,as their solution,yet WE the taxpayers are still paying out of state prisons to house them.Oklahoma is building a new prison,just to house California prisoners,still at our expense.They love the fact that there will be more prison jobs for their town,to boost their economy,while California goes broke !!!

[Greg Conners]

Perhaps this will help state Republicans with their constipation in regards to moving a little more revenue into the ol' pipeline. Starve the beast long enough and it will want you for dinner.

[Frank Courser]

The Party of NO has NO common sense and is costing California billions by the continued incarceration of non- violent offenders. Senator Jim Webb said it best “With so many of our citizens in prison compared with the rest of the world, there are only two possibilities: Either we are home to the most evil people on earth or we are doing something different--and vastly counterproductive. Obviously, the answer is the latter. Republican lawmakers need to be smart on crime, and stop this wasteful spending on prisons that does not make us safer!

[norweb]

Tell Republican Sam Blakeslee to meet me on the steps of Sacramento Superior Court on Sept. 4Th. to ask a Judge for a Writ of Mandate to force the CDCr, Board of Parole and legislators like him to abide by the Law that was passed Assembly Bill 1539 an "Extended Compassionate Release" for disabled prisoners, like my son, Mark Grangetto D-40372. I want to bring my son home and take care of him. The CDCr is denyng a request for a sentence recall even though he has served almost 19 years in prison for a motorcycle wreck. Wheelchair bound, diabetes out of control, Hepatitis C, legally blind and the list of medical problems go on and on. All of these conditions were caused while he was in prison. The prison diet is unbelievable and will kill any diabetic.

They even cut the food diet in the prisons. How can you cut a 1500 calorie diet when he is on insulin. He is nauseated 24 hours a day. Prisons are a glorified concentration camp of starvation. They won''t release any prisoners even to the family members who want to take care of them.

You are all seeing the crushing results of a punishment mentality, and they have the nerve to call this rehabilitation.

Nora Weber, Bakersfield, Ca..

[Rachel Contreras]

Republicans have always been for the rich,aparently this guy thinks he's going to lose money so now he wants to cancel his vote, what a crock. I see it didn't matter that they cut 9 billion dollars from education so I guess they are making sure that the prison system will have plenty of occupants to keep there pockets full and there special interest groups happy with job security. As for releasing prisoners the nonviolent ones and the old and sick are suppose to be released can't this nitwit understand the difference? WE as Americans need to take action against this injustice get rid of the Gov and his crooked buddies and then maybe we can get some honest government for California!!!!!

[Patricia]

The state of California is BANCRUPT yet some people want to continue to house as many people in correctional facilities as possible? Ever wonder exactly how many of these inmates are diagnosed as mentally ill who have pled to worse crimes than they were accused of because they were guaranteed shorter sentences? Well it happens EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I HAVE PROOF! There is no justice for this type of assinine railroading tactic that DA's like to push through the system! There is NO rehabilitation when mentally ill inmates medical needs are neglected and ignored! Prisons are not designed to meet the medical needs of the mentally ill! The justice system is FLAWED!!!!!

[Itsashameshame]

It is about time they begin to release prisoners instead of all these harsh laws.. People are in there because of UNJUST LAWS HARSH SENTENCING.... THE THREE STRIKES LAW IS USED AS IF IT WERE CANDY... ONLY THOSE WHO PURPOSELY TAKE A LIFE SHOULD BE APPLIED THE THREE STRIKES LAW.... ALL THE REST SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO JUST SENTENCING NOT OVERCHARGED AND OVER SENTENCED...

RELEASE THE PRISONERS LET THE FAMILIES TAKE CARE OF THEM.... LET THEM BE ABLE TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES...

[Susan1union1]

Sam Blakeslee should be recalled for spending billions to overbuild the bureaucracy instead of cutting back on it. Everyone knows that Corrections is nothing but a black hole of waste and not one criminologist thinks prisons do anything except take away from schools and human services. The Republican politicians are to blame for this crisis, both the fiscal crisis and humanitarian disaster taking place in the prisons. They love prisons, jails and juvenile halls, they love a bloated bureaucracy that provides nothing but harm to our public safety. They have sold their souls to the devils of law enforcement labor unions. We need to take the Republican politicians completely out of power starting with Blakeslee. I am convinced that they do not want a budget

[Natascha]

I believe that politicians against early releases and sentencing reform have a personal, financial interest in the prison industry. Instead of spending all that money on incarcerating parents and juveniles a few extra months, why don't we just give them house arrest for the last months of their sentences and INVEST our tax dollars in the education of our children? Revenge and punishment are the foundation of our legal and prison systems. Education and correction/rehabilitation would be the smart way to spend our tax dollars. Currently our politicians try to send our inmates out of state to private, for-profit prisons. Did you know that these private prisons extend inmates' release dates' at their own discretion? Yes, the private sector can extend inmates' prison stays at the rate of around $3,000 per month, if I'm not mistaken. I wonder who gets a share of those private prisons' profits......

[nora weber]

I, Nora Weber, along with attorney will be in the Superior Court, Sacramento on Sept. 4, 2009 asking the Judge for a Writ of Mandate for a recall of sentence under Assembly Bill 1539. Extended Compassionate Release for prisoner Mark Grangetto who is disabled and the prison system failed to comply with a formal review as requested by two (2) prison doctors.

Attorney handing this case is Ken Karan, phone (760) 420-5488

This case if approved by the Court would save the State a lot of money because, his mother Nora Weber, could possibly be granted release of her son.

Thank you for reporting prison issues

Nora weber

[Toni Sevchuk]

I see black-mail in the works here! repubs saying stop the releases or we won't sign the budget. Typical!
Release the prisoners already!!!!

[delang]

Double-Cross you have been double-cross the taxs payers for yearsss and wasting tax money for years that made this mess Republicans, Sam Blakeslee .. do the right thing this time
not all inmates are in there for killing or rape ..a lot of them could go home with there familysss you just waste waste are money this money could go to the school for the kidsss
or are you waiting for the fed three judges to do it for you
all you law maker think you are above the law DO THE RIGHT THING THIS TIME RELEASESSSSSS

[Jacob]

You reap what you sow. At this rate, we'll all be in jail. Yay!!! District attorney's don't care about guilt or innocence..they just want a conviction. Make all the laws you want to tax and arrest people. Eventually, everyone is arrested and than there is no one to tax. What happens than? Recidivism rate? Wonder why its so high? How does someone re-enter society if you permanently tag someone as a criminal. They have no other choice but to recommit crimes. How sad. Ignorant people shouldn't be allowed to vote.

[Pat J]

The Prison Industry of Human Warehousing is one of biggest money makers and political baseball bats used by politicians to scare the public into believing they can keep us safe by giving longer sentences indiscriminately. Tough on crime has only made longer terms for those who got caught and has done nothing to catch anymore or reduce the tremendous cost that was placed on the tax payers backs. What it did accomplish was to open the wallets of tax payers with the fear tactic of tough on crime and keep our streets safe. We are no safer and our law enforcement agencies are struggling.
We need to put our money ito the community, NOT into the the P&P (Politicians & Prisons) coffers. Instead of improving our community they always seem to sweep problems into a prison in hopes no one will know. Meantime it festers into a huge financial mess.
We need community jobs and programs to help one another with rehabiltation and family support services and children services and senior services. Otherwise we are just a dog eat dog society. Like a bad Conan movie!

[delang]

Assembly's Republicans, Sam Blakeslee and all republicansss
needs to be recalled because all this mess you did ...how much prison sharess do you oun RECALL THEM GET THEM OUT THEN MAYBE WE CAN GET THIS DONE

[bdbdbd]

The 33 prisons can hold 90,000 but hold 160,000+ and that doesn't make sense. In the last 30 years 1,000 new crime laws have been passed and that doesn't make sense. Non-violent prisoners, aged, the infirm, and parole violators make up the bulk of prisoners and that doesn't make sense. The cost per prisoner (2/3 of which goes to salaries for the 50,000+ CDCR emplayees) has reached almost $50,000 each and that surely doesn't make sense. How about some of you geniuses in Sacramento making sense for a change?