BAKERSFIELD, CA - A forum will be held Wednesday night to discuss the current and future impact of Governor Jerry Brown's prison realignment plan.
AB109 aims to reduce overcrowding in state prisons by moving prisoners into county facilities. The governor's plan shifts inmates considered non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious offenders, from state prisons to county jails.
Kern County law enforcement reports an increase in crime since more convicted criminals were released under AB109.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Mark Pafford says realignment has greatly effected the county -- creating a revolving door of prisoners at Lerdo Jail, and putting more criminals back in the community.
Pafford said, "Since it started, we've seen about a 30% increase in felony violence, from two years ago and even an 18% filing increase since last year."
Pafford says funding has also been an issue.
"Kern County I believe is one of the lowest counties, funding wise, out of all 58 counties in the state. So we just have not received the funding from the state to address the issues that we need to address," said Pafford.
Last week, the Community Corrections Partnership divided $9 million of state prison realignment funding between several departments. This compared to $22 million the county received last year.
After the decision, chief probation officer David Kuge said realignment has hurt the county.
"Kern received the least amount per offender. We received about $7,000 per offender. Some of the Bay area counties received $70,000 per offender. If we had $70,000 per offender, we could do a lot more in this community," said Kuge.
Pafford says the county is focusing more money into community based organizations, rehabilitating prisoners in an effort to lower the number of reoffenders.
"Hopefully we will be given the resources to address some of their needs mental health counseling, or substance abuse counseling to address some of their needs and maybe we can stop this cycle," Pafford said.
The prison realignment forum is Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., at Cal State University Bakersfield. Registration is at 5:00 p.m.. The forum is in the Dezember Reading Room.
The Pat Brown Institute at CSU Los Angeles is partnering with CSUB to put on the event.
AB109 aims to reduce overcrowding in state prisons by moving prisoners into county facilities. The governor's plan shifts inmates considered non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious offenders, from state prisons to county jails.
Kern County law enforcement reports an increase in crime since more convicted criminals were released under AB109.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Mark Pafford says realignment has greatly effected the county -- creating a revolving door of prisoners at Lerdo Jail, and putting more criminals back in the community.
Pafford said, "Since it started, we've seen about a 30% increase in felony violence, from two years ago and even an 18% filing increase since last year."
Pafford says funding has also been an issue.
"Kern County I believe is one of the lowest counties, funding wise, out of all 58 counties in the state. So we just have not received the funding from the state to address the issues that we need to address," said Pafford.
Last week, the Community Corrections Partnership divided $9 million of state prison realignment funding between several departments. This compared to $22 million the county received last year.
After the decision, chief probation officer David Kuge said realignment has hurt the county.
"Kern received the least amount per offender. We received about $7,000 per offender. Some of the Bay area counties received $70,000 per offender. If we had $70,000 per offender, we could do a lot more in this community," said Kuge.
Pafford says the county is focusing more money into community based organizations, rehabilitating prisoners in an effort to lower the number of reoffenders.
"Hopefully we will be given the resources to address some of their needs mental health counseling, or substance abuse counseling to address some of their needs and maybe we can stop this cycle," Pafford said.
The prison realignment forum is Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., at Cal State University Bakersfield. Registration is at 5:00 p.m.. The forum is in the Dezember Reading Room.
The Pat Brown Institute at CSU Los Angeles is partnering with CSUB to put on the event.