Mama’s Coming Home
Thousands of female inmates in California could be released as part of a new program implemented by the state this week, reports the CNN blog This Just In. The Alternative Custody Program, which became law in 2010, allows inmates with less than two years to serve on sentences for nonviolent, nonsexual, non-serious crimes to be released on parole or to transitional facilities. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), about 45% of the state’s 10,000 female inmates could be eligible for the program.
This news comes just months after the US Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its inmate population. In addition to leveraging the Alternative Custody Program (ACP) in this way – the release of female prisoners is projected to save the state $6 million a year in addition to reducing the state prison population – California is also implementing a plan to move 33,000 low-level inmates to county jails (an initiative we discussed in a previous blog post).
California’s move to release female offenders that pose a low risk for recidivism is a move we at JPay applaud. From our customers, we know that having an incarcerated family member is an extremely difficult situation for any family; in fact, our inmate communication services are aimed at making this kind hard time easier, both for confined individuals as well as their friends and family on the outside. CNN’s report includes the following quote from CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate that underscores the potential benefits of this release program:
“Approximately two-thirds of CDCR’s female inmates are mothers whose children are either with relatives or are in foster care. ACP is a step in breaking the intergenerational cycle of incarceration, as family involvement is one of the biggest indicators of an inmate’s rehabilitation.”
It should be noted that these women will almost certainly have to continue to meet obligations to the state once they’re released. Even those that don’t transition to post-incarceration programs or care facilities will be subject to monitoring under a parole agent, and likely be compelled to make restitution and pay other fees. JPay is there to help with this process as well; we enable individuals to make parole, probation, supervision and restitution payments quickly and easily online and at many walk-up retail locations.
California seems to be taking significant steps to reduce its prison population, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this summer. With programs like the ACP, the state is doing so in a way that benefits families, low-risk offenders, and the CDCR’s budget at the same time.
31 Comments
phillip
September 18, 2011I think all states should do this with male and female inmate so many minor offenses and doing years in prison at taxpayer expense, I have someone locked and yes my taxes plus my pay check is helping to support him when he could be out here working to pay his fines and probation and all other fees that ive been paying on.
AngieMae
September 18, 2011I believe ALL prisons should do this and even more. I know there are people in prison for 10-20 that did not do what they were convicted of and are awaiting and have been awaiting years on appeals while their families suffer without them. I believe the government out to put together a team of experts who are non biased with cases and travel from state to state, prison to prison and review files and release these suffering victims of political ventures & strifes. We ALL would pay less taxes and many families would be reunited from years of loneliness and anguish. I really think people would not even sue….they would sign off on that priviledge just to be with their children again. I personally know of 3 people with 10-20 who are completely innocent and I have never had a charge in my life and live a standard middleclass straight life. Now how many other people know of one to five people who are completely innocent and are just taking the wrap because there was no money involved. AND how many people know of over 50 people involved with 9-11 who have been living off of our taxpayers for over 10 years and not even tried yet! The system needs help and needs to be cleaned out and revamped. Clean out first and let these people live and have a chance to prove good character. 2nd chances are always available and 10 years for $5 cocaine is WRONG and 2 years for murder is WRONG. Look it all over, go in and assess and redo without all the long wait/time/expense. The american people need this!
Bill
September 18, 2011Okay, but only if the parole system gets an overhaul.
JUNE HOPKINS
September 19, 2011I PERSONALLY THINK THAT COLO. NEED’S TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I SERVED A FEW YEARS AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN IN DENVER WOMANS PRISON,AND THE TROUBLE ONE OF MY SON’S GOT INTO HAS HIM IN PRISON NOW SERVING A SIX YEAR SENT.BECAUSE HE HAD NOBODY ON THE OUTSIDE TO GIVE HIM GUIDANCE AND LEAD HIM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. ALSO COLO. NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THERE MANDATORY PAROLE.THE PAROLR OFFICERS DO NOT HAVEV THERE BEST INTEREST AT HEART, ALL THEY WANT HERE IS TO PUT YOU BACK IN PRISON.
audrey powers
September 21, 2011they need to do this with all stats its crazy michigang prisons are so ful and they
keep filling them i think its all about money and michigan is going broke whats with the state crazy i no that come on
Glenn Grootegoed
September 21, 2011The prisons are over populated with nonviolent offenders I know this to be a fact as I am a nonviolent offender I have been out for 2 years now and I am still not free of my incarceration. At first I wondered why anyone would want to end up back in prison,but now I know why it happens. We are now faced with the facts no one will hire you with a feloney on your record.I was lucky I had skills that are always needed. Still I have problems finding a place to live. These things you take for granted oh I’ll get a place to live and a job and life will be good again. Its not that way. If you have family and a support system when you get out that will be the only way you will be able to survive. they can release as meny poeple from prison as they want but with out a good support system it will fail. Something needs to be done about having some rights to a home the ability to pass a employers screening. If we are released and have done a good job with or time in prison and our parole we should be able to live again the American dream but this isn’t the case. We are going to pay for the rest of our lives. I Love the idea of even my lady being released but unless we work to help give these poeple a support system and a end to discrimination on felons, they will just end up as another failure and everyone will say well that sure didn’t work. Lets work out some of the bugs in this. There is no blanket fix for this problem. We need these poeple out but how will they survive?
carol k
September 23, 2011my son has done 25 years on a 15 yr sentence, flat time and good time but has been denined parole 5 times, severly hearing impaired, but gets cases ,for sopposed infractions ,completly up to guards , laud talking and scaringing a female guard, she felt threatened, this case led to a 2 year set off. didn,t hear calls for meal times, med lay ins, being treated like a sex offender even when court documents , say we will srrike out any language indicating sex charges, if you will plea to attempted asault . did not happen, has been treated like a sex offender, no contact visit with son for several years. also have a letter from pro. att, stating don,t know why tdcj is treating him like this, so its been a nightmare fot 10 years now , so if he ever gets out , will be extermly hard on every one,but we,re ready , with open arms, to assist, and with the help of GOD, life has toget better, i pray for all inmates and families, lol to all carol k.
Deanna Sherman
September 26, 2011I believe all men and women should be given a chance to make right of their wrongs. I also believe that children are better off with their mothers and fathers. Hopefully by reuniting them their children will not end up in the Judicial System if we act fast enough to help their parents.
Carlton Lopez
September 26, 2011Look out Texas.
Kelley
September 26, 2011That’s great. But what about male inmates with less than two years to serve on sentences for nonviolent, nonsexual, non-serious crimes?? Children depend on BOTH of their parents, not just their mothers. I have heard of a similar program here in WA state for male and female offenders, which lets them come home early for home monitoring- the problem is they don’t seem to ever actually let anyone get out to get into the programs. There is always some loop hole to keep them in.
arona
September 27, 2011I agree 100% with the release of the females, but they should also release the males also.I often wonder if they released the non-violent offenders, the drug possession offenders etc would this frre the prison system of overcrowding? is this the population that keeps the Texas prisons open and the employees with jobs? I also would like to mention that it is really sad that America cares more about the rights of the guatamela prisoners than our our american people that are in our prisons. I am not speaking for the violent rapists, the murderers, child molestors etc, iam am speaking for the ones that are “caught up in the system ” when does it become inhumane treatment?how long is too long to stay in prison with in prison within prison for a nonviolent crime ? how long is just too long?
arona
September 27, 2011i’ll tell you how long is too long ?when you keep getting pushed back for trying to defend yourself in there, trying to keep a lil sanity and dignity when you are being locked up in solitary confinement, (agg seg), high security, (they are all the same just different names.animals at the humane society are treated better…and you have guards that are bullies and love kicking on a man when they are already down , you will never get out of there and there should be Law against it…
leticia
September 28, 2011they should stop sending minors to adult prisons and giving them a second oportunity when it was their first offense. This would help to the over population, and give them the oportunity to become productive citizen for our society. plus many of those children are not guilty for the crimes that they were charge many of them were victims of adults who conmited the crime and make children to take the blame for fairness . my son was sentenced when he was 16 years old to life without parole and i keep fighting to prove his innocense yes i know what you think that is my son but i have witnesses i just need the help from innocent project please if u know anybody can help me. my son is being there for 5 years and he has never have discipline conflicts.
tamra
September 28, 2011i agree something needs be done tell me why a sex offender gets 4 years and i know people doning 10 years there life for stupid shit
Zara
September 30, 2011This is blatantly sexist against Men, especially since State Law forbids sexual discrimination by Government bodies.
j70141
October 2, 2011The real story is now that they were ordered by the federal courts to start initiative to let some people out of prison.
BUT, they found a sneaky way around that. In an effort to make it look like they are interested in the well being of the inmates, they will not be transfering all the prisoners to county jails. (That way, they can tell the courts that the prisons are now less full).
Nice going… nobodies getting out after all.
j70141
October 2, 2011(corrected version)
The real story is now that they were ordered by the federal courts to start initiative to let some people out of prison.
BUT, they found a sneaky way around that. In an effort to make it look like they are interested in the well being of the inmates, they will NOW be transfering all the prisoners to county jails. (That way, they can tell the courts that the prisons are now less full).
Nice going… nobody is getting out after all.
Tina
October 3, 2011I too, feel the judicial system here in Florida and the other states should have different statutes and mandates when it comes to the laws of their state. My 27 year old son was just sentenced to 7 years in prison due to a drug charge and nobody else was involved but himself and it was his first time being arrested!! Talk about an injustice, I think this was a tragedy to both our family and him. He leaves behind two young sons, ages 2 and 5. I am still trying to grasp it all and seeing two therapists too. His brothers and sisters are devastated as well because of this ridiculous sentence. He certainly doesn’t need prison time, he needs rehabilitation as well as some counseling. He was suffering through some unfortunate events in his life, which led him to do the drug. The assistant state’s attorney and the head of narcotics even tried to get his sentence lowered, but did not succeed. So now he has to spend the next 7 years behind bars.
Patti
October 12, 2011I agree with you. These prisons are so full with people that should be home with their familes and not in there. Our state has the highest count around and they just keep putting these people inside. I feel some of these sentences are just dumb. the time does not go with the crime. They talk about all the money being spent, well look around people, and do something right for a change. Bring these familes back together and save everyone a lot of money.
Sonni Quick
October 12, 2011This is all so disheartening. My son-in-law did something he shouldn’t and is paying the price. He was in Texas, alone, with only a public defender that he met the day he was supposed to go to court. He was scared by the PD who told him to take a plea of 17 years or they were going to give him 40 – for agg assault. A bit much in my mind but I couldn’t be there for him because of illness and his wife was having a difficult pregnancy. He’s been in for 6 yrs now – parole hearing in about 1 1/2 yrs. we are trying hard to make it happen, but it doesn’t seem that many people make parole. He signs up for classes but they never let him in. The guards plant weapons in plain sight when they do a cell check for weapons. He has epilepsy but are very inconsistant with his anti-seisure meds. He had another seisure 10 days ago. When it happens they cuff him and leave him lay on the floor. The warden has been called, but now can’t be reached. Because the guards keep writing up cases on him he’s afraid they will give him more time. Can they do that? He tries so hard to be no trouble. Can anything be done? His son is 5 1/2 yrs old now and he hasn’t even touched him once. He’s only seen him through glass twice. He’s too far away for my daughter to make the drive. I know it will be tough when he gets out but he has support and love waiting at this end and sometimes that is the only thing that gets him through. The prison system makes money off them, the towns make money. The guards have jobs. The companies that provide the commisary goods are making a killing. It’s no wonder they don’t want to let them out. It’s depressing. It’s like treating them as if they were cattle.
pam morey
October 13, 2011I think theres alot of stuff going on in there and i will get to the bottom of this,my son is in there also, suppose to be out 10/19/11 and now well …
DL
October 16, 2011I am all for what California is doing, the state of Georgia needs to get on the bandwagon also. Georgia has one of the highest incarceration rates in the nation. They are all about locking up young black people especially males. And I don’t think early releases should just apply to nonviolent offenders, particularly when they were sentenced as minors and it was their first offence. Many of our youth get more time in prison than law enforcements officers/police who commit crimes. Police Officers sware to uhold the law, but in GA three Police officrs took the life of a 96 year old woman, and attempted to cover it up, but neither of the received more that 10 years in prison. But, my son got 20 years for aggravated assult and armmed robbery, in which no life was lost. The legal system in Georgia is prejudice, and mandatory minimums unfairly target minorities. The whole prison system in Georgia needs to be overhauled. And, every prisioner should be given credit for good behavior, even those with mandatory sentences. Parole should be granted to all inmates who were sentenced as a youth.
Sonni
October 17, 2011Arona – our stories are alike. Guards constantly causing problems that make it impossible for inmates to have a good record – no matter how well they behave. You know the warden has to know about all of this and for reasons unknown to us – turns a blind eye. I try to constantly encourage my son in law, but every step forward is accompanied by a step back because guards plant weapons, etc. I hope he makes parole but they have all the power and he is treated as though he is worthless. If the guards got sentenced for the crimes they commited against them they could feel how worthless they themselves are because of their actions.
Fredick adams
October 24, 2011Is this goin to all the states ? If not they should. i been waiting for my mother to come home seens i was 12 now im goin on 19. I’m still waitin i wrote the board over and over never got a responce and I dont think that professional at all at least say she aint gettin a early cut or something i just want to be informed about what I wrote them about !!!
Terri
October 27, 2011I applaud the State of California for making an attempt to relieve the great debt that excessive incarceration brings…. first time offenders (non violent crimes)with a good record should be offered an alternate plan that makes sense all around. I soooo with the state of Florida would get on board….
Angela Daugherty
October 28, 2011I am a mother of 3 children who was incarcerated in chowchilla for 3 yrs. I had a drug problem and was sentenced to state prison for a dirty test to probation. I thought the purpose of the criminal justice system was to incarcerate to state prison for violent crimes and to use harsh prison sentences to deter crime and stop recureence of offenders returning once they were released? I had no idea I could be sent to prison for being a drug addict and recieve more time than a woman who was an alcoholic and got less time then I and she killed 3 people. What is wrong with this picture? that is why our prison system is so overcrowded because the courts are sentencing prison terms to anybody now a a days.
Effects of Inmate Realignment Felt In California | JPay Blog
October 28, 2011[...] through the state’s correctional ecosystem. As we mentioned in earlier blog posts (here and here), Sacramento approached the mandatory reductions by shifting more nonviolent and low-risk offenders [...]
KEVIN
October 29, 2011i agree with everybody all states should do this i live in florida and my fiance has been in prison for over three years now what she did was wrong she was convicted of drunk driving and i guess vehicular manslaughter she drove to fast and killed her own SON thats something she has to live with for the rest of her life everyday she wakes and goes to bed she will never have him again she is due to get out hopefully in may of 2012 for good behavior and work realease program they have in that prison so im praying everyday that she comes home so we can get married thank you and i hope this works so all prisoners that have short term can be let out and save tax payers all kinds of money.
Nancy Hinojosa
October 31, 2011I think that it is a good thing that CDC can help our people in prison reunify with they’re children. I also would like to see the men in women that have been in prison for at least 20 years get a chance to start over. I have met many people that are doing life, that have changed there lives around. now they wont take life for granted
debbie madison
November 3, 2011I to think the system is so screwed up. Its all about money. You can walk away for serious crimes, iff you have the right cash. Its so unfair the way cases are handled based on money. Two men can commit the same crime, one with a top dollar attrny and the other with a public defender, Who do you think is going home. What a shame, What happened to innocent until proven guilty?And they wander whats wrong with our society, Somethings needs to change fast. Hell is right here on earth.
debbie madison
November 3, 2011Also stop putting people in prison with serious injurys like brain injurys, they dont have a chance in there always being taken advantage of from other inmates.Put them in a mental faculty where they can get the proper mediccal care they need and deserve.No one was hurt or sexually mistreated. Simple charge of failure to comply with a police officer. Wow now he has to spend 3 years of his life in prison,Obama if you want my vote you really need to address this issue.