Pre and post-sentencing credits went into effect Jan. 25, 2010. The new half-time from date-of-arrest time credits apply only to those sentenced or entering CDCR AFTER Jan. 25. The law IS NOT retroactive, although litigation has been initiated which could lead to a widening of the credit application.
At the present time, the only programs offered by San Quentin prison that qualify for enhanced credits, or Milestone Credits, which result in time being taken off of your term are the GED program, ABE, Patten College and the vocational machine and sheet metal shops. Up to 6 weeks off for each one-year period of incarceration may be earned. Inmates serving 85 percent are not eligible for the new credit-earning categories.
Despite several propositions and legislative bills that have proposed changes in the three strikes laws over the past several years, NO CHANGES IN THE 3 STRIKES LAWS have been adopted or are planned at this time.
On January 12, 2010 the 3-judge panel in the “over-crowding” case issued an order requiring the state of California to reduce its inmate population by 44,000 prisoners over the next two years. This order has been “stayed” pending an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. A decision from the Supreme Court in the case is not expected until later this year or perhaps early 2011.
The CDCR is continuing with its own plan to reduce the inmate population by approximately 6,300 inmates in 2010 in order to save money.
The state has officially closed the Herman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility in Chino. The remaining 400 minors were transferred to other facilities. The CDCR plans to retrofit the 50-year-old lockup with an electric fence and other safeguards before moving in 1,200 adult prisoners.
