According to last night's online LA Times:
Conceding that California won't meet a federal court deadline to reduce prison overcrowding, Gov. Jerry Brown is moving ahead with plans to expand parole programs to include the frail, mentally impaired and elderly, while seeking to fund another wave of jail expansion, according to his proposed budget.
Brown also wants to immediately change state policy to allow some jailed felons to further shorten their sentences.
The moves are announced in his 2014-15 budget plan, due to be released Thursday but leaked to reporters Wednesday evening and verified by a source close to the budget process.
DOCUMENT: Gov. Jerry Brown's 2014 budget proposal
Under the new program, prisoners over 60 years old who have served at least 25 years would be eligible to be considered for parole. So, too, would inmates who suffer severe medical conditions or who are mentally impaired.
Brown's budget says inmates serving doubled sentences under the state's Three Strikes law, but whose second offense was not violent, will now be able to shave off a third of their time. Previously, they were limited by law to a 20% reduction.
Brown uses his spending plan to also announce support for split sentences, requiring judges to reduce local jail terms for felons but adding time for community probation. Judges would be able to sentence a felon to jail alone only if they identified a reason. Brown's budget document says the change will help offenders get access to community services while helping jails reduce crowding.