CALIFORNIAS CULTURE OF CORRECTIONS

January 27, 2012 Julie Lifshay, MPH PhD Centerforce

Centerforce
Information, Education and Advocacy for individuals, families and communities impacted by incarceration

Incarceration in the U.S.

U.S. focuses on a fair process, not for a just outcome*
Impersonality Revenge

Increase in violent crime rates in the 70s and

early 80s U.S. decided to get tough on crime

Mandatory Minimum sentences Enhancements Longer terms
*Reference: New Yorker, Jan 30, 2012, "The Caging of America," Gopnik

United States*

*Reference: Bureau of Justice and Statistics (http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/glance/incrt.cfm

Results*?
U.S. Violent Crime Rates
60

Rates per 1,000 Population

50 40 30 20 10 0

*Reference: Bureau of Justice and Statistics (http://www.bjs.gov/content/glance/tables/viortrdtab.cfm)

Results
More than 1 in 100 adults are in jail or prison*
1 in 31 adults behind bars , or on parole or probation**
in 1980, ~ 220 people incarcerated / 100,000***
In 2010, ~731 people incarcerated/100,000*** U.S. has highest incarceration rate in the world****: England and Wales: 154 per 100,000 Iraq and Iran: 133 per 100,000 Canada : 116 per 100,000 Japan: 63 per 100,000
*2008 Pew report http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/report_detail.aspx?id=35904

We are #1*

*Data from: http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/2006nov_factsheet_incarceration.pdf

Results
The incarceration rate in the U.S. is 4X the world average The US has less than 5% of the worlds population but 23% of the people incarcerated in the world
The US imprisons the most women in the

world
*Data from: http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/2006nov_factsheet_incarceration.pdf

Results*
$ states spend on prisons has grown at 6 X

the rate of spending on higher education More than 50% of AA men without HS diploma go to prison* AA men incarcerated at a rate 6 X that of white men More black men in the grip of the criminaljustice systemin prison, on probation, or on parolethan were enslaved in 1850.
*Reference: New Yorker, Jan 30, 2012, "The Caging of America," Gopnik

Reasons for drop in Crime

Not (only) incarceration: no consistent relationship
1991-1998*:

Texas: 144% increase in incarceration

Decrease in crime 35%

California: 52% increase in incarceration

Decrease in crime: 36%

New York: 24% increase in incarceration

Decrease in crime: 43%

*From 2005 Sentencing Project report Incarceration and Crime Rates, Complex

Changes in Incarceration and Crime Rates for states, 1991-1998*

Above Average Increase in Incarceration: 72% Decrease in Crime Rates: 13% Below Average Increase in Incarceration: 30% Decrease in Crime Rates: 17%
*From 2005 Sentencing Project report Incarceration and Crime Rates, Complex

Reasons for drop in Crime

Zimring*
hot spot policing stop and frisk policies

A decrease in the prevalence in crime fuels a

further decrease in the prevalence of crime.

it is situational what matters is the culture of crime

Zimring, The City That Became Safe, 2010

Incarceration in CA
Tougher sentencing laws
3 Strikes Law 1994 Other tough on crime laws Enhancements Indeterminate sentences Determinate sentences of exorbitant amounts of time

CA Lifer population
20% of CA prisoners are serving a life sentence 34,164 (2009) = 3X the number in 1992 Parole Grant Rates: 2000 to 2007 around 8%; 2010 about 18% In 2010, 80% of those were rejected by the Governor Recidivism rate of lifers is miniscule

California New Admission Rates*

*http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/keyfacts.php

CA Criminal Justice Expenditures*

*http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/keyfacts.php

Results*?

*http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/keyfacts.php

Results*

*http://motherjones.com/slideshows/2011/05/california-prison-overcrowdingphotos/institution-for-men

Incarceration in CA*
If you ask any prosecutor in California, theyll tell you that sentencing laws in California are a byzantine, complex, difficult-to-decipher, and not always consistent patchwork. They have to be [changed] so that people we should really be afraid of serve longer terms, and that people were just mad at do shorter terms.
*Matthew Cate, Secretary of CDCR, http://motherjones.com/slideshows/2011/05/californiaprison-overcrowding-photos/institution-for-men

Challenges Faced by People Inside

Disconnection from loved ones
In some cases, alienation from loved ones

Educational levels Past Experiences of violence Emotional growth Drug Addiction Prison culture Loss of Hope Loss of Motivation Job skills and opportunities Health issues and risks We lock up men and forget about their existence.*

*From: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/01/30/120130crat_atlarge_gopnik#ixzz1 kOr5MYOx

California Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Adult Programs is at the heart of rehabilitation activity in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Its goals are to (1) provide effective evidence based programming to adult offenders and (2) create strong partnerships with local government, community based providers, and the communities to which offenders return in order to provide services that are critical to offenders success on parole.

*From: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Programs/index.html

Culture of Corrections in CA
Power of the CCPOA Added the R back into CDC in 2005
Of $43,000 spent per prisoner/year,

$2,000 (5%) spent on rehabilitation (2007)* Funding environment & impact on programs
$250 Million was cut from a $600 Million Adult Program budget in January 2010.
*2007 reference from http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/news/docs/GovRehabilitationStrikeTeamRpt_012308.pdf

Culture of Corrections in CA Program

Culture around punishment Suspicion of outside groups

Power and control

Concern about idle time

Contact Information
Julie Lifshay, MPH PhD jlifshay@centerforce.org www.centerforce.org