CLU to host talk on prison system shift

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Oct. 14, 2011) Ventura County law enforcement representatives will discuss the impact of the realignment act that addresses overcrowding in California's prisons from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at California Lutheran University.

Sheriff Geoff Dean, Public Defender Steve Lipson, Chief Probation Officer Mark Varela and Special Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Schwartz will give a presentation in the Roth Nelson Room. They will discuss how the new law, which went into effect on Oct. 1, may affect Ventura County resources and community safety.

Criminals convicted of about 500 classifications of lower-level crimes who previously went to state prisons will instead serve their time in county jails under the 2011 Public Safety Realignment Act. The move was designed to reduce the state's corrections costs, freeing up funds for public education and other services, while also reducing the state prison population to comply with a federal court order.

Some prosecutors and county sheriffs predict rising crime and other dire outcomes from what amounts to the most radical change in the prison system in decades. While sentence lengths will remain the same, more inmates could be released early because of overcrowded county jails. Others say California's counties can provide better rehabilitation and job training services to improve the state's recidivism record.

CLU's Department of Criminal Justice, Master's in Public Policy and Administration Program and Center for Equality and Justice are sponsoring the free public presentation.

The Roth Nelson Room is located on Mountclef Boulevard between Olsen Road and Memorial Parkway on the Thousand Oaks campus.

For more information, contact Pat Egle at egle@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3450.