With Fresno Jail beginning early releases again after its newly-opened floor filled up in only two weeks, Fresno Bee, 10/17/11, it seems fitting that CNBC's "Billions Behind Bars" premiers tonight at 9 p.m. PT/ET. This original documentary focuses on the enormous costs that results from our country having the highest incarceration rate in the world and the huge profits made by the private corrections industry. CNBC also interviews a "tough-talking [Texas] judge in this law-and-order state who’s actually trying to keep offenders out of prison and save taxpayer money through an innovative and apparently successful rehabilitation program. Since the Community Corrections Continuum of Care Court program began in 2009, 87% of the participants have met all the requirements and have gone on to graduate from the program."
Why is California behind the times? While the Sacramento Sheriff and Chief Probation Officer squabble to get a bigger piece of the pie and retain more positions, see my 10/14/11 post, why is everyone ignoring the Ascend Program proposal that seeks less than 10% of the County's realignment funds for rehabilitation? Ascend is designed to reduce recidivism through a comprehensive program of counseling and life skills training. While available now in Sacramento County only for persons able to pay the $500 monthly costs of the program, Sacramento Bee, 7/11/11, making the program available to more of those who can't afford to pay is expected to save taxpayer money over time through lower incarceration costs and less crime. With jail costing $88 per day and Ascend at less than $20/day, proposed expansions of the Ascend program for low-level offenders could save the county between $500,000 and $3 million over the next 9 months alone. [Added: "Prison Realignment: Go Directly To Jail," Sacramento News & Review, 10/20/11].
Last week, the Community Corrections Partnership Committee voted 4-3 to recommend that the Sheriff get $9 million, Probation $4.1 million, and Ascend $0 of the $13.1 million in state realignment funds. Sacramento Bee, 10/14/11. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the Committee's recommendation November 1. Here's hoping the Sacramento Board of Supervisors take the "Billions Behind Bars" lessons to heart and drop some spare change towards rehabilitation.
