Assemblyman Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) has released a statement regarding California Governor Jerry Brown’s attempt to modify the prison realignment bill.
A May revise to the state budget includes a trailer bill with language largely based on Assemblymember Holden’s AB 1065 that intends to modify the prison governors realignment bill.
The realignment has mean select inmates convicted of felonies considered non-violent and/or non-sexual serve their sentences in county jails rather than a state prison. Once released, local probation officers would supervise them instead of state parole agents, according to news reports.
Below is Assemblyman Holden’s statement:
“I introduced Assembly Bill 1065 this legislative year because of strong concerns with criminal justice realignment.
Assembly Bill 1065 requires individuals released from prison that were previously certified as a mentally disordered offender (MDO) or mentally disordered sexual offender (MDSO) to be subject to state parole supervision instead of post-release community supervision by the county.
The Governor’s administration has changed course and heard our concerns about the MDO/MDSO population and the strain it is causing to cities and counties. The Governor has included Assembly Bill 1065 into his budget proposal. Individuals who have been certified as an MDO/MDSO suffer from severe mental disorders and have committed crimes that involved violence or grave bodily injury, and represent a substantial danger of physical harm to themselves and others. This population and our communities are best served when this population is monitored by state parole officers.
I look forward to working with the Governor’s administration to ensure the passage of these policies and am thankful for his willingness to revisit these issues to ensure that our communities are safe.”
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