NCJ Number
84769
Date Published
1981
Length
24 pages
Annotation
Analysis of California corrections indicates that the major challenge over the next decade will be to cope with rising prison populations, growing inmate violence, a deteriorating physical plant, newly formed employee unions, and chronic prisoner idleness within severe fiscal constraints.
Abstract
The California Department of Corrections (CDC) is now projecting that the prison population will accelerate to 39,787 by 1984-85 and may reach 46,564 during 1989-90, while the CDC is several years behind in meeting housing needs forecast as early as 1976. Between 11 and 13 prisons will be required to provide some 18,413 additional prison beds needed to house projected inmate populations through 1990. Compounding the problem are 1980 studies showing that the majority of existing correctional institutions do not meet contemporary standards. CDC support costs are accelerating, with per capita inmate costs having more than doubled in the last 5 years. At the current rate of growth, the cost of maintaining a single prisoner for 1 year will reach $25,526 by fiscal 1989-90. Also, despite increased staffing, inmate violence and disruption have steadily grown, so that protracted and expensive lockdowns have become common. Despite annual statements that expansion of prisoner work programs has high priority, there has been no substantial increase in such programs, as prisoner idleness appears to be chronic. Overall, California corrections has experienced a steady decline in cost and program effectiveness over the last decade. CDC shows no sign of reversing this trend over the coming decade. The historical background for the current state of California corrections is provided, along with tabular data and 16 bibliographic listings.