Schwarzenegger Warns of Crisis In Calif. Prisons
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Warning that the nation’s largest prison system is dangerously overcrowded, Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday summoned lawmakers into a special session to decide whether to build two new prisons and adopt other relief measures.
The special legislative session will start today.
In a speech to the California District Attorneys Association, Mr. Schwarzenegger said a system designed for 100,000 inmates had nearly 172,000 as of last week. “Our prisons are at a crisis point right now because the state of California has not planned adequately for our future,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said. “We are at an all-time high right now, and we are rapidly running out of space.”
Mr. Schwarzenegger wants to free up prison space for men by housing 4,500 women in private prisons, a plan rejected by legislative negotiators recently.
Last week, a federal watchdog appointed to oversee California prison reforms accused the Schwarzenegger administration of backpedaling on needed changes.
