California Crime, Panel 2: SOLUTIONS – A New Approach?

Decades of tough-on-crime legislation saw California’s state prison population grow from 20,000 prior to 1980 to a peak of 175,000 in 2006. Reforms, including a 2011 court-mandated reduction of the prison population, have lowered the number of people in California prisons, and the state will close two prisons in 2021-2022. But, how many prisoners now languish in underfunded city and county jails? Prison closures coincide with a new crop of Progressive officials and treatment advocates who are approaching punishment, incarceration and rehabilitation differently; Cities including Oakland and Sacramento have created programs to add social workers to the police response to some 911 calls. Are efforts like these improving the rehabilitation of those being arrested and making California safer for everyone?

Featuring: Captain Brian Bixler, Los Angeles Police Department; Hillary Blout, For the People; Tinisch Hollins, Californians for Safety and Justice; Michael Romano, California Committee on the Revision of the Penal Code

Moderated by Byrhonda Lyons, Calmatters

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