Prison Realignment: The County Says It's Ready For More Prisoners

The Oct. 1 realignment moving non-violent offenders from state prison to county jails and probation has come, and Contra Costa County officials say they are ready for the influx. 

According to the Contra Costa Times, there are four prisoners who will be released to Contra Costa right away, and it is expected that an average of 24 prisoners per month will be shifted from prisons to jails and probation.

The move comes as the state seeks to reduce its budget deficit and overcrowded prisons. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will examine the realignment plan at its meeting today, Tuesday, Oct. 4. That plan will provide the Sheriff's Department with more than half of the $4.5 million the state is providing the county for realignment. About $1 million would go to the Probation Department, while other funds would go toward Health Services, the District Attorney and the Public Defender's offices. 

"The returning inmates are those with low-level convictions, which have been categorized as “non, non, non,” which means non-violent, non-serious and non-sexual offender," said District V supervisor Federal Glover. "No one with a conviction that is related to violence, drug-related, gun-enhanced, or have gang connections will be released. Those who pose the least risk may be allowed to return to their communities but county authorities will still electronically monitor them."

Glover noted that the state is not providing enough money for the county to maintain the realignment. "The $4.5 million given by the state to Contra Costa for realignment is not enough and is far less than the amount spent by the state prison system per inmate," he said. "While the county will be able to accept and house the number of returning inmates this first year, there is no funding mechanism for continued financing beyond the first year."

Meanwhile, Martinez police captain Eric Ghisletta said that he does not expect the realignment to have an effect on local police services. 

"Hopefully this will mean getting more people who truly deserve being in prison, in prison," he said.