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New postPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: Debunking Myths about Who is in Prison in California Reply with quote
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Don't be fooled by their Liberal Bullsh-t, these are the facts!


Over 85% of Inmates Convicted of Crimes against Persons,
Serious and Violent Felonies, or Prior Felonies

"Prisoner rights advocates have argued that California¢s prison system is full of non-violent, non-serious offenders. An objective analysis of the system refutes that argument. California¢s prisons house some of the most dangerous felons in the nation, and any reform effort must acknowledge that fact."
- Senator Chuck Poochigian

Overview
Opponents of California¢s correctional system argue that California¢s prisons are full of low-level felons, and drug addicts. Furthermore, they overlook the fact that with the advent of tougher sentences for repeat offenders, Californians are safer. Our crime rate dropped from the 4th highest in the nation in 1993 to 29th in the nation by 1999. Additionally, since 1999 our rate of incarceration per capita also dropped significantly.
This document looks at the prison population as it exists compared to the myths. It also breaks down our prison population to show that the vast majority are in for serious or violent crimes, crimes against the person, or crimes aggravated by prior felony convictions.

Breaking Down California¢s Prison Population:
For every 100 felonies reported, there are 40 adult arrests, leading to 28 convictions that result in only 5 offenders sent to prison. First time offenders are rarely sentenced to prison, except for violent crimes. 80% of all inmates have been convicted of felonies prior to their current commitment offense. 54% of all inmates have had three or more prior convictions, while 12% have 11 or more convictions. Overall, California prisoners have a greater number of prior criminal sentences than inmates in other states.

A 2005 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Census of California¢s prison inmate population shows that at least 85.5% of male inmates were convicted of crimes against the person, serious or violent crimes, or crimes aggravated by prior felony convictions. Only 14.5% of offenders were committed for offenses which appear to be non-serious (theft crimes or possession of a controlled substance).

Low Level Commitment Offenses May Understate Criminal History
Approximately 23,000 or 14.5% of male inmates in California¢s state prisons are identified by a commitment offense of drug possession, commercial burglary, or theft offenses without a prior strike. While these are relatively low level offenses, the commitment offense does not necessarily tell the full picture. Commitment offenses are the offense the offender is in jail for at that point in time. However, a prisoner¢s sentence is a reflection of their current commitment offense which may also be affected by their past criminal history.

Understatement of Risk Example: Sex Offenders
It is important that any policy changes reflect on the entire criminal history of the offender before making decisions about treatment or community-based options. Commitment offense data on its face may understate the criminal history of the offender. Sex offenders are a good example. The 2005 CDCR report indicates that 14,000 male commitments are for sex offenses. However, the report also indicates that 21,000 inmates would be required to register as sex offenders when released. This means that there are at least 7,000 offenders whose current offense is a non-sex related crime but who have a prior history which includes one or more sex offenses. If the state adopted a policy change that releases so-called low level offenders without consideration of their prior criminal histories, the state could inadvertently release sex offenders back into our community.

Are Proposition 36-Eligible Offenders In State Prison?
It has been suggested that California¢s prisons are filled with as many as 23,000 Proposition 36-eligible prisoners. However, given the limitations outlined in Proposition 36, it is unlikely this is the case.

Background:
Proposition 36 was passed in November, 2000 and allows first and second time felons convicted of drug possession the opportunity to receive substance abuse treatment instead of incarceration. Proposition 36 does not apply to felons convicted of drug sales, manufacturing, or possession with intent to sell.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation indicates that 14,325 prisoners are in state prison for the possession of controlled substances, considerably less than the 23,000 suggested (as of December 31, 2005, only 12,793 male prisoners and 1,532 female prisoners were in prison for the possession of a controlled substance). Moreover, few if any of these inmates are Proposition 36 eligible.

Proposition 36 was designed to ensure that only low level offenders enter the system and excluded felons convicted of drug possession if:

1. The offender committed another crime at the same time he or she was arrested for possession of controlled substances.
2. If the offender had a prior conviction for a serious or violent felony (a "strike") within the last five years.
3. The felon had three or more possession convictions following the passage of Proposition 36.
4. Individual offenders refused treatment.
5. A person on parole who commits a non-drug possession offense or who violates a non-drug-related condition of parole.

While the CDCR data does not indicate whether the 14,325 offenders fall within these five categories, it stands to reason there are few of the 14,325 inmates, if any, that are Proposition 36 eligible.

Real Data/Real Decisions
The bottom line is that the Legislature must ignore the rhetoric and look at the facts when assessing any prison reform proposal. Comprehensive data will be key to devising any reform proposal that adequately protects the public.

PS: This is support for us and the public from the guy CCPOA didn't endorse for AG
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Stranger
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New postPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for the info, that was some good stuff for thought.

Basically one of our infamous senator's; Jackie Spears, would like to make it as easy as possible for the felons to walk as a free person.
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bannedmgmt
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New postPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
From personal experience from sitting on classification committees for the past 20 years or so, it is very rare to see an inmate with one felony offense on his rap sheet, that being the one that got him his current stay in hotel Kalifornia.

99% are repeat (and repeat and repeat and repeat) offenders, even though they may have only been actually sentenced to prison one time, their criminal history usually fills more than one page. A lot of the offenses that they are incarcerated for are plea bargains of some more heinous offense, done to save the county or State the expense of going to trial. Most of them have drug offenses in their background, but very few are in for mere possession. The majority are for crimes against persons, maybe to support a habit, but they still are crimes against you, your neighbor, or the kid around the block.

Poochigian hits the nail on the head with his analysis.

I am sure the AG elect will be as tough on crime as Poochigian would have been.
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SERT DAWG
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New postPosted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:24 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
I found this little gem of a power point on the CDCr website. It shows the statistics compared with other states. We are not even CLOSE to what the liberals say we are. If these libs lived in some of the other states, they would have a heart attack and die!
http://www.cya. ca.gov/communica tions/docs/ Dispelling7myths .pdf
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