California governor calls for $11 bln prison reform

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday proposed an $11 billion plan to repair and expand California's troubled prison system.

The Republican governor called for a 78,000-bed expansion of state prison and jail capacity to ease overcrowding, changes in the parole system to reduce the high rate of recidivism, and formation of a commission to propose revisions to California's criminal sentences.

The proposal would be backed partially by $10.6 billion in bonds.

An October proclamation by the governor said 29 of the state's 33 prisons faced severe overcrowding, and corrections officials have said California could run out of bed space for its inmates as early as next June.

California's 174,000 prisoners live in lockups designed for 100,000. Overcrowding has forced more than 17,000 inmates into gymnasium and classroom housing.

"Everyone in this room knows our prisons are in a crisis," Schwarzenegger said at a news conference in Sacramento.

"Public safety is my highest priority and my administration will continue to address California's prison crisis while ensuring that dangerous criminals do not pose a threat to our families or communities," he said.

Schwarzenegger pledged to work with the Democratic-controlled Legislature to make the changes, saying if California does not make reforms, federal judges will revamp the system.

Democratic state Sen. Gloria Romero, who has criticized the governor's past moves to make changes in the prisons, said she would work with Schwarzenegger to "restore the sheen to California's correctional system." Romero chairs the Senate's Public Safety Commission.

The governor's plan calls for $5.5 billion for local jails and juvenile facilities, $4.4 billion for state prisons and $1.0 billion for health-care facilities, as well as smaller amounts for measures to guard against sex offenders.

Schwarzenegger in October issued an "emergency proclamation" on the state's overcrowded prisons, a move that allows officials to temporarily house inmates in other states.

He included proposals for new prisons earlier this year as part of a legislative package but they were not approved by the Legislature.

His parole proposal calls for changes to ensure that authorities focus on supervising people who are at a higher risk for committing another crime.

California's current system requires law enforcement to track everyone who has been jailed.

A 17-member commission will investigate California's sentencing practices. The current system requires most violent prisoners be released when their set term is served, while some non-violent offenders are jailed for too long, prison experts have said.

The governor's proposal also calls for $237 million through 2008 in various programs to protect Californians from sex offenders.