Press Conference: Early Release Program For Prisoners Results In Increased Crime and Greater Strains On Public Safety And Budgets; Los Angeles Cities Band Together To Ask The State For More Support

Beginning in October 2011, California state prisons began moving “non-non-non” (non-serious, non-sexual, non-violent) offenders into county jails, the county probation system and county courts. By summer the number of former state prisoners in Los Angeles County was expected to reach 6,000, including prisoners with the highest maintenance costs - those with medical and drug problems and mental health issues, as well as prisoners with prior histories of violent crimes who are serving sentences for lesser offenses--costing Los Angeles County $100 million in the first year alone.

Statewide, 38,000 individuals who would have been the responsibility of the State are instead supervised and housed by local county probation and sheriff departments. That number includes 23,000 who are now under the supervision of local probations departments as "Post Release Community Supervision” (PRCS) offenders instead of as parolees under state jurisdiction. As a result, the number under state parole supervision is under 70,000 for the first time in more than a decade.


ATTENDING:

Independent Cities Association – host. Representing 44 member cities throughout Los Angeles County, approximately 8M people. ICA President and Mayor Pro Tem Juventino Gomez, City of El Monte will initiate the press conference.

Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association – Chief Ed Medrano, City of Gardena,

Law Enforcement Liaison LA DA Office Ron Ingels Los Angeles County DA

Over 30 Police Chiefs and Commanders representing cities throughout Los Angeles County

Uniformed Public Safety Personnel

20 ICA Board Members – all elected officials.

Elected Officials from ICA member cities.

Supervisor Knabe, Supervisor Antonovich - Invited

Los Angeles District Attorney, Steve Cooley - Invited


WHERE:

El Monte City Hall – on lawn. Parking in rear of City Hall
11333 Valley Boulevard, El Monte, CA 91731

November 15, 2012 10:00am


WHY:

As predicted by many, local jurisdictions are experiencing a host of realignment related issues – increased property crime, overflowing jails, and greater strains on public safety budgets. California’s solution to shift the prisoner burden from the state to local counties and communities has had devastating effects. The state calls this shift, which resulted in a transfer of approximately $5.9 billion in responsibilities to local counties and cities, realignment. To solve some of these problems, the dialogue with the opinion leaders, the public and elected officials needs to be heard by local, regional and state leaders.

MORE: www.icacities.org, www.lachiefs.com, http://www.keepcasafe.org/

The Independent Cities Association (ICA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public benefit corporation that was established in 1961 by the full service cities (cities that provide their own police and/or fire services) in Southern California to represent the interests of the member cities collectively.

ICA is governed by a 26 member Board of Directors elected by the member cities. The combined population of ICA members cities is approximately 8 million. The Independent Cities Association maintains public/private partnerships with carefully selected public and private sector organizations for the purpose of furthering the interests of all concerned.

Mission Statement

“The Independent Cities Association (ICA) educates and advocates for member cities in the Los Angeles region on shared issues to preserve and enhance local government.”

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Contact Information

Trish Pietrzak

Executive Director

Independent Cities Association

Contact via E-mail