CALIFORNIA’S Culture of Corrections

1. January 27, 2012 Julie Lifshay, MPH PhD Centerforce CALIFORNIA’S Culture of Corrections Centerforce Information, Education and Advocacy for individuals, families and communities impacted by incarceration

2. 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 70’s 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

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

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

5. 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

6. We are #1* *Data from: http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/2006nov_factsheet_incarceration.pdf

7. Results • The incarceration rate in the U.S. is 4X the world average • The US has less than 5% of the world’s 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

8. 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 ½ X that of white men • More black men in the grip of the criminal-justice system—in prison, on probation, or on parole—than were enslaved in 1850. *Reference: New Yorker, Jan 30, 2012, "The Caging of America," Gopnik

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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”

13. California New Admission Rates* *http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/keyfacts.php

14. CA Criminal Justice Expenditures* *http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/keyfacts.php

15. Results*? *http://ag.ca.gov/cjsc/keyfacts.php

16. Results* *http://motherjones.com/slideshows/2011/05/california-prison-overcrowding-photos/institution-for-men

17. Incarceration in CA* “If you ask any prosecutor in California, they’ll 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 we’re just mad at do shorter terms.” *Matthew Cate, Secretary of CDCR, http://motherjones.com/slideshows/2011/05/california-prison-overcrowding-photos/institution-for-men

18. 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#ixzz1kOr5MYOx

19. 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

20. 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

21. Culture of Corrections in CA “Program” • Culture around punishment • Suspicion of outside groups • Power and control • Concern about “idle” time

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