SACRAMENTO — Signaling a sharp turn in attitudes about rehabilitating state prisoners, lawmakers Tuesday approved a sweeping new program to give inmates more schooling and job training to better prepare them for release.
By the slimmest of margins, the state Assembly endorsed a bill aimed at reducing the huge proportion of ex-convicts who commit new crimes or parole violations and wind up back behind bars. If signed by the governor, the bill would trigger "an unprecedented shift" in the mission of state prisons, an Assembly analysis said.
"Our recidivism rate is enormously high," said the bill's author, Sen. John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara). "Most of these guys are coming back out to live among us, and it's in our best interest to do whatever we can to make sure they lead safe, constructive lives."
The Vasconcellos legislation was among dozens bills approved by the Senate and Assembly as they faced a deadline next week to end their session for the year. On Tuesday, lawmakers voted to list sex offenders on the Internet, allow hybrid cars in carpool lanes, give inheritance rights to children conceived from frozen sperm and eggs after a parent has died, issue alerts about irradiated food in school cafeterias, and curb the listing of cellphone numbers in public directories.
One of the tightest votes in the lower house came on the inmate rehabilitation bill, SB 1399, which would dramatically change how most of the state's 164,000 inmates spend their time.
In recent years, budget cuts have reduced convicts' access to education programs, with only about one in four inmates finding slots. Critics say such limitations are foolhardy, given research showing lower reincarceration rates for prisoners who attend classes.
In a 2003 report, the nonpartisan Little Hoover Commission faulted the state for poorly preparing inmates for life on the outside and operating a "revolving door" prison system. The report said that when released, 10% of California parolees are homeless, 50% are illiterate, 80% are unemployed, and as many as 80% abuse drugs.
Vasconcellos said his bill would ensure that each inmate's "shortcomings are addressed constructively in prison, right from the start, so we can help them succeed and stay out of trouble."
