PPIC Report: Realignment Four Years Later
The Public Policy Institute of California’s (PPIC) most recent report on Public Safety Realignment indicates that shifting responsibility for many lower-level offenders from the state to counties has been largely successful in reducing the prison population to comply with court orders. The report also notes that there has not been a major increase in the crime rate since Realignment was implemented in 2011. However, there is still work to be done reducing recidivism, lowering costs and helping county jails manage a new and different population than they have in the past.
“The PPIC report indicates that Realignment is working fairly well overall, but that some counties are still struggling with overcrowding and other issues,” said Matt Cate, Executive Director of the California State Association of Counties. “The report tells us where counties need to focus our attention to make realignment work better. That includes more evidence-based programs to reduce recidivism, and adding more of the right kind of jail space to handle medical care, education, pre-release programming and security for longer-term inmates. Counties need to continue working with the state on these issues and we need to make sure local law enforcement gets the help they need to address vehicle thefts, the one category of crime that has seen an uptick since Realignment was implemented.”
Prior to becoming CSAC’s Executive Director, Cate was the Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and one of the architects of the Realignment program. “I think people have to remember that our prison system was under court order to reduce the population from about 190 percent of its design capacity down to 137 percent. That we have been able to do that without early releases from state prison or an increase in crime rates speaks volumes about the professionalism of the people at ground level who implemented Realignment and work in the system every day.”
One of the biggest successes of Realignment was reestablishing the Community Corrections Partnerships (CCPs) in every county to help determine how to allocate Realignment funding. They are typically led by the Chief Probation Officer in each county and include law enforcement, social services agencies, mental health professionals and community based organizations that deliver services to offenders.
CSAC has produced a series of “Smart Justice” videos that highlight various county programs aimed at reducing recidivism and helping offenders be more successful upon release.