Pacific Crime Blog

Crisis Solved! It's So Easy.

A few news stories:

The Legislature on Thursday moved to head off a federal takeover of the state prison system, approving a massive borrowing plan to add beds for inmates and refocus efforts on rehabilitation programs. DON THOMPSON AP

JENNIFER STEINHAUER in the New York Times

Mark Martin in the San Francisco Chronicle
Steven Harmon in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/27/07

Major issues go unaddressed in prison plan -- A $7.4-billion package doesn't address parole system and sentencing laws, critics say. Jenifer Warren in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/27/07

Capitol embraces prison deal -- but will judges? -- The Legislature's bipartisan passage Thursday of a $7.9 billion prison construction and rehabilitation plan only awaits the assured signature of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before it becomes law. Andy Furillo in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/27/07

Prison deal made only by threats -- Lawmakers approved a nearly $8 billion plan to build 53,000 new state prison and county jail beds Thursday and figuratively crossed their fingers that federal judges will back off their threats to seize control of the state's badly overcrowded 171,000-inmate prison system. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/27/07

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California has finally solved its impending correctional crisis. The legislature has acted and the governor has showered them with praise. It has taken a bold step, clicked its heels three times, committed Californians to billions of dollars worth of lease revenue bonds (i.e., not asked for citizen approval) and decided to build more bed space. How daring, absolutely daring!

Not one politician will have to hear anyone say that they, the legislature, are not tough on crime. Yes, they're very tough. Who can argue with incapacitation?

And that's it, folks. All of the other issues about California's prison system are out the window, just create space to hold more prisoners doing dead time.

Once again, SuperCell: Our Crime Control Superhero!, has vanquished the crime problem.