DailyKenn.com — "California is giving 76,000 inmates, including violent and repeat felons, the opportunity to leave prison earlier as the state aims to further trim the population of what once was the nation's largest state correctional system," according to kcra.com.
More than 63,000 of those were convicted of violent crimes. Reports say a history of good behavior is allowing them to secure early release.
Is this a cost-cutting measure?
According to apnews.com, California is "swimming in money." The state has a $15-billion surplus due to "people at the top" doing well.
California is giving 76,000 inmates, including violent and repeat
felons, the opportunity to leave prison earlier as the state aims to
further trim the population of what once was the nation's largest state
correctional system.
More than 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible for good behavior credits that shorten their sentences by one-third instead of the one-fifth that had been in place since 2017. That includes nearly 20,000 inmates who are serving life sentences with the possibility of parole.
The new rules take effect Saturday but it will be months or years before any inmates go free earlier. Corrections officials say the goal is to reward inmates who better themselves while critics said the move will endanger the public.
Under the change, more than 10,000 prisoners convicted of a second serious but nonviolent offense under the state's "three strikes" law will be eligible for release after serving half their sentences.
200 latest news reports from 100 top conservative websites