Here's a look at AB 109 from the real front line.
AB 109 is a law signed by Gov. Brown in 2011, ushering in "realignment" of the prison system. Under the law, responsibility for incarcerating people convicted of certain non-violent felonies has been shifted from the state to the county level. People imprisoned in county jails under the law are meant to be there for short(er) periods of time while they get efficiently "rehabilitated." The law was apparently passed to combat recidivism, though it is also a stop-gap against overflowing prisons.
County jail instead of prison for nonviolent offenders means many things. Some of them may surprise you. Remember that county jails are not equipped for long-term incarceration:
1) A lower standard of medical care than the (already sanctioned) state system
2) Less opportunity for the incarcerated to attend programs
3) Harsher overall conditions than state prison-sentenced inmates (No State Title 15)*
Not to put too grim a face on things, but the idea that something has been "fixed" by this AB 109 fiasco must be countered by some actual reality. The dog and pony show that county officials are calling the DRC (Day Reporting Center) has some serious issues to deal with before then can claim any real benefit to the community. From infrequent attendance of "in-custody programs" stuff to bootlegged study books, and exercises which aren't relevant to the participants, the claim of success is effectively just so much fantasy.
AB 109 was meant to relieve the state of its excess prisoners whom it was shown could not be housed in a safe and responsible manner, and has effectively worsened that situation.
Some of the things that "violent offenders" in state prisons still enjoy that county inmates who are doing just as much time do not:
1) Paid work: fire crews as well as kitchen work, support positions, janitors, electricians, plumbers, etc.
2) Conjugal visits. County visits are so limited that I'm not allowed to hug my mother and father let alone kiss my wife...etc. State inmates who qualify get 3 or 4 "family visits" per year.
3) Packages from approved vendors. Items like coffee, socks, etc can be sent to state inmates 4 times a year at reasonable rates. There's a monopoly in county jails and extortionate rates for everything sold (ex: Top Ramen for a dollar). Trinity Services is the name of the
company. Are they public?
*CA State Title 15 is kind of like a Prisoners' Bill of Rights. The catch is that it only applies to state-run facilities, and not county facilities like the one Michael has been incarcerated in, and many others.
(Image from Huffington Post)