Gubernatorial candidates in California talk prisons & prison reform

by Lisa Rea

Some weeks ago the Sacramento Bee did a story on the five candidates running for governor of California, thus far, and their views on prisons and criminal justice policies. It is hard to say that any of the responses are encouraging or enlightened.  In fact, it left me wondering where's the vision? Where's the bold leadership?

Many of the responses showed a lack of understanding of the prison crisis the state faces and some of the responses showed a surprising amount of ignorance.  The declared or soon to be declared candidates include Republicans:   businesswoman Meg Whitman, state insurance commissioner Steve Poizner, and former congressman and state legislator Tom Campbell. The Democrats include state attorney general and former governor Jerry Brown and mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom. Many of the candidate's comments reflected some of the same rhetoric heard this year in the California Legislature. The state is faced with severe prison overcrowding with increasing threats by federal courts to reduce its prison population. This has made prison reform more than a hot topic; some might call it “toxic”. 

Oct 27, 2009 Politics, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:USA, Correspondent:Lisa Rea

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