Parole and release

By John Lam Drug offenders are having trouble getting services to help with their addictions once they get out of prison, a report by three newspapers concludes. “The state has not yet invested enough money in treatment programs,” according to a seven-month study conducted by the Ventura County Star, the Redding Record Searchlight, and the Salinas Californian. “The state has not yet invested enough money in treatment programs” The report concluded that thousands of addicts and mentally ill people have gone from incarceration to the … [Read more...] about Parolees having trouble getting help with treatment programs

Positive: Barriers to employment were reduced By Salvador Solorio Proposition 47 has allowed many former offenders access to better jobs and opportunities. The voter-approved initiative downgraded drug possession and some thefts from felonies to misdemeanors. “This wave of new workers will inevitably benefit the economy, but it also decreases the likelihood of re-arrest,” USA Today reported. “According to recidivism experts and scientific studies, convicts are far less likely to re-offend if they get a good job when their incarceration … [Read more...] about Two views of how Prop. 47 is working out:

By David Eugene Archer Sr. At least 13,500 low-level drug offenders were freed from prisons and jails by California voters in 2014, reported USA Today. “Did Prop 47 help?” the newspaper asked. The answer appears to be “not much.” Thousands are now homeless, jobless and again committing petty crimes. The Prop 47 releases exposed the limits of California’s neglected social service programs. The proposition earmarked millions of dollars saved from prison costs for inmate rehabilitation, but not one penny was spent — even though expanding … [Read more...] about Negative: Parolees leave prison homeless and jobless