PROPOSITION 13 - ITS IMPACT ON PROBATION IN CALIFORNIA (FROM MANAGING THE PRESSURES OF INFLATION IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1979, BY H JEROME MIRON - SEE NCJ-59239)

• NCJ Number: 59246
• Author(s): T L FITZHARRIS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE IMPACT ON CALIFORNIA'S PROBATION PROGRAMS AND AGENCIES OF PROPOSITION 13, WHICH REDUCED PROPERTY TAXES AND WHICH WAS ADOPTED IN 1978, IS EXAMINED.

Abstract

PROPOSITION 13, THE JARVIS-GANN PROPERTY TAX INITIATIVE, EXCISED $7 BILLION FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUES IN CALIFORNIA. STATE RELIEF TOTALING $4.1 BILLION MITIGATED ITS IMPACT IN THE 1978-79 FISCAL YEAR, BUT A 25 PERCENT DECREASE IN LOCAL REVENUES IS EXPECTED IN 1980-81. MOREOVER, THE NEW GANN INITIATIVE, WHICH WOULD PLACE SPENDING LIMITS ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IS EXPECTED TO PASS IN THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION. PROBATION, A COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVICE IN CALIFORNIA FUNDED MOSTLY BY THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX, WAS ALREADY IN A WEAK BUDGET POSITION BEFORE THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION 13. CURRENTLY PROBATION SERVICES HAVE MINIMAL REVENUE PRODUCING PROGRAMS, FEW DEMONSTRABLE 'PRODUCTS,' A NEGATIVE PUBLIC IMAGE, AND INADEQUATE STAFF. THE FIRST YEAR RESULT OF PROPOSITION 13 WAS TO REDUCE PROBATION BUDGETS BY AN AVERAGE OF 10 TO 11 PERCENT. GREATER REDUCTIONS ARE EXPECTED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. REDUCTIONS HAVE CAUSED PERSONNEL CUTBACKS THROUGH ATTRITION AND ELIMINATION OF NEWLY AUTHORIZED POSITIONS, A DECREASE OR ELIMINATION OF NONMANDATED FUNCTIONS, AND REEXAMINATION OF THE ROLES OF PROBATION AND PAROLE. THE HIGH COSTS OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS MAY, HOWEVER, RESULT IN THE REEMERGENCE OF PROBATION SERVICES WITHIN A FEW YEARS. IN ADDITION, CALIFORNIA WILL PROBABLY JOIN THE NATIONAL TREND TOWARD STATE-OPERATED PROBATION. APPENDIXES PRESENT A 1978 TELEPHONE SURVEY OF 25 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S PROBATION DEPARTMENTS, TABLES SHOWING FUND ALLOCATIONS, PROGRAM AND PERSONNEL REDUCTIONS RESULTING FROM PROPOSITION 13, AND A SURVEY OF THE STATUS OF CALIFORNIA JAILS. FOOTNOTES INCLUDING REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. FOR RELATED STUDIES IN THIS VOLUME, SEE NCJ 59239-59245. (CFW)