Cuts in Programs to Help Inmates Questioned

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/16/MNR21BS0IE.DTL

Key Terms:

Recidivism-Repeated or habitual relapse, as into crime.

Deficit-The amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required amount.

Rehabillitation-To restore to a condition of good health, ability to work,or the like.

Description:

Because there is a limited amount of money in CA, the Governor is forced to trim a great amount of money from the prison system's budget. By doing so, prisons will be forced to released inmates that are currently working with and in rehabillitation programs. The government chose this specific group of inmates because they want the recidivism rate to be as low as possible.

Analysis:

California has the highest recidivism rate in the nation, 70%. That means that for every 10 inmates released each year, 7 of them return. Though the epicenter of the problem is unsure it is not surprising, being that California has one of the largest populations in the nation. There are many factors as to why this statistic proves to be extremely high but being so, how does California expect to improve its recidivism rate by cutting funds to rehabillitation programs?

Explanation:

California has a $20billion deficit through June 11. More programs will be cut as a result of the major financial. $1.2billion were cut from prison systems alone in the past two years.

Prediction:

While I feel that this cut could be even more dangerous to the economy and well being of the California society. I also believe that with a great amount of intensive work and determination to lower the recidivism rate, that cutting the budget will force California's prison system to improve.