A federal appeals court has tentatively ruled that California must release by between 36,200 and 57,000 inmates. The three federal judges said a final population figure would be announced later and more hearings may be held before a final decision is made. The court found that that inmates were deprived of constitutional rights to adequate mental and physical health care, and that the unconstitutional conditions are due to overcrowding.
The order comes as California is dealing with a $42 billion budget deficit that is forcing the state to furlough its employees two days each month. Opponents of the release order claim that the state does not have the funds for the support programs associated with the release of such a large number of inmates, but the court claimed that reducing the number of inmates could save the state $900 million annually in prison costs. The state has said it will appeal any final prisoner release order to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Source: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2009/02/federal-judges-order-california-to.php
Tags: california department of corrections, prison overcrowding
