You’ve probably seen recent headlines regarding the potential early release of around 76 thousand incarcerated people in California. This comes after the state enacted regulations that would give good behavior credits and could shorten sentences for various offenders, including violent offenders.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has said the department wants to provide opportunities to incarcerated individuals. Although it’s been reported that it could take years for individuals to reach an early release, the state’s decision received backlash from many district attorneys who have called for a repeal of the temporary regulations.

Today on AirTalk, we discuss what the implications of the state’s decision are, why some are opposed to the move and how it impacts the incarcerated community, prison populations and more. Are you or one of your loved ones impacted by this decision? What are your thoughts? Share by calling 866-893-5722.

We reached out to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, but the department didn’t respond to our request for an interview.

Guests: 

Michael Romano, director and founder of the Three Strikes Project at Stanford Law School, where he teaches criminal law and policy, he chairs the California Committee on the Revision of the Penal Code, a state body that studies and proposes changes to criminal law and policy

Anne Marie Schubert, District Attorney for Sacramento County who signed onto a petition to repeal regulations that could lead to early release of thousands of people who are incarcerated; she tweets @SchubertForAG

Beatrice Bayardo, mother of an incarcerated woman at the California Institute for Women (CIW) in east LA and a member of California Coalition for Women Prisoners, a grassroots social justice organization