California Governor Schwarzenegger Joins Assembly Republicans, Sheriffs as Effort Mounts Against Early Release of Prisoners

08/16/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today filed court documents joining a major push by state and local officials as efforts increase to prevent the early release of dangerous criminals into California communities. In federal court, the Governor filed a motion to support 31 Republican Assemblymembers, 15 county district attorneys and 23 county sheriffs and chief probation officers who have requested to get involved in the prison overcrowding case against the state.

“I commend the dedicated efforts by the Assembly Republicans, district attorneys, sheriffs and chief probation officers who are requesting to get involved in this landmark case that, if resulting in a prison release order, will have a grave impact on public safety in California,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “These officials know precisely how an early release order will impact our criminal justice system – they will provide invaluable insight as the court evaluates the threat to public safety and fiscal impact at both the state and local levels.”

“I'm confident that the steps the state has taken and will continue taking to reduce overcrowding will meet the court's concerns. At the same time, we intend to fight to ensure that dangerous criminals are not released into our communities.”

In May, the Governor signed Assembly Bill 900, a comprehensive bipartisan plan that will solve the overcrowding crisis by building 53,000 new prison and jail beds and reducing California’s unacceptably high recidivism rate by implementing a paradigm shift to focus on rehabilitation throughout the state’s correctional institutions.

In July, two federal judges, in cases relating to prison medical care and prison mental health care, granted motions to convene a three-judge panel to evaluate prison overcrowding. The Governor has filed a stay request with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to prevent the three-judge panel from proceeding. On August 15, 2007, the court issued a briefing schedule on the stay motion.

Source: California Governor

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