Los Angeles Should Brace For Thousands of Released Prisoners Following Supreme Court Ruling

By Dennis Romero Mon., May 23 2011 at 4:30 PM

DaR

The U.S. Supreme Court today ordered California to open the floodgates at its state prisons and unleash 37,000 of its 140,000 or so inmates.

You can bet that a good portion of those 33,000 or so inmates ~~37,000~~ would end up right back here in L.A. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has said that, if it happens, the release would be his biggest challenge as L.A.'s top cop.

The union representing LAPD officers, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, has also been dead against such a release. LAPPL president Paul M. Weber said last year:

The people being considered for release are convicted felons, many of whom have plea bargained their crimes down to lesser offenses. A large number of them are parole violators - in other words, they are people who have already proven they cannot remain law abiding after being released from prison.

The Supreme Court voted 5-4 in favor of the release, but gave California two years to get it done.

The majority cited inhumane conditions -- calling it cruel and unusual punishment -- for a prison system that has been at 175 percent of capacity.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote that the overcrowding, especially for inmates with serious medical and mental health issues, results in "needless suffering and death."

Justice Antonin Scalia dissented and called the ruling "perhaps the most radical injunction issued by a court in our nation's history."

[Read some deeper background on the case at WitnessLA].

Tags:

California, inmates, LAPD, Los Angeles, overcrowding, prison, prison release. U.S. Supreme Court

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Anthony Bauwens

People that are in jail for pot or hash or so dont belong in prison?!Thats were the state failed they needed treatment in a rehab. not jail,Can tee some people off ,then hearing a Sheriff helps grow pot in Mendicino???We really need to change laws.

Anthony Bauwens

Keep the gang bangers in jail and repeated offenders in,because they most likelly will onlly cause more problems and be back within a week..

Nvillalobos23

Hi my name is Nikki and I love that they did this because there are a lot in there that should not be there

Tovangar2

http://english.aljazeera.net/v... What a boon for private prison corporations if they build more.

Drue

I like You Focker's idea send them to other states, they have the death penality there, maybe after some of their homie's are BBQ'ed for being dumb these repeat offenders will think twice.

Mcnal

These are not federal prisoners, the are state prisoners. The Stupreme Court needs to stay out of the states business. There is a 3 strikes law in California, so much for that .

fdvcf

www ilove-shoppping org

Yoo Focker

Transfer these prisoners to different states. Why does each prisoner cost 3x more in CA than in TX? Murderers will be let go and poker players and pot dealers will probably be stuck in prison. What a great justice system we have!!!

Anthony Bauwens

Most likelly to spread gang activity within our country! Look at the documantaries on TV about were gangs started? and now its all over or ded they low drive to east from west? you got me also?

WSAY

Justice Antonin Scalia dissented and called the ruling "perhaps the most radical injunction issued by a court in our nation's history." (Except for AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, both of which he sided with the majority.)

Pr Chris

While I don't want to see people who cannot refrain from violence on our streets, our entire criminal justice system crys out for reform. When someone is sentenced to a non-violent crime and is sent to prison for a year, and 8 years later is still there, because minor frustration with the inhumane conditions provokes one add on to the sentence after another, there is something wrong.

A beer with friends while on parole can get one sent back to jail. The parole conditions would be impossible for most of us to meet perfectly--and one mis-step gets one sent back to jail. No wonder we have so many in jail. We need to figure out what we want to do with our prison population; 1/3 of the prison population is mentally ill. We have a broken system. Maybe more judges making decisions like this will force a national dialogue.

We cannot spent $3000/kid per year to ensure they get a good start in life...but we can pay $40,000/year for 50 years to keep them jailed. This is insane~

PR Chris

Smiley Dave

So right my brother is doing a life with no parole sentence for a non violent crime.A very sad thing,especially cause the judge only wanted to give him 10 to 12 yrs.But that did not happen. Mandatory Minimum 2 small possession charges for pot and hash.17 years later he gets in a situation if he tells on someone they will let him go.Was not a option.... So he has finished 18 of life in a zoo.

Anthony Bauwens

I also think youre brother should be out on the street,they railroaded him,hope hhe gets out normal without parole!!!!

woodymcbreairty

I wonder if the Supreme Court majority did this out of hatred for California. This would give them the last laugh on a state that is 70% or so Democratic and known as a liberal la la land.