The Political Dynamics of Justice Reform in The U.S.
The Political Dynamics of Justice Reform in The U.S.
The Political Dynamics of Justice Reform in The U.S.
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After a hous<strong>in</strong>g boom abruptly ended <strong>in</strong> the 2008 f<strong>in</strong>ancial crisis, Stockton became the<br />
largest U.S. city to declare bankruptcy. <strong>The</strong> number <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>in</strong> the city’s police<br />
department shrank by more than 20 percent. In Stockton, the police union put up signs<br />
around town: “Welcome to the 2nd most dangerous city <strong>in</strong> California: Stop lay<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f<br />
cops!”<br />
In 2011, California lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 109, known as “realignment,” which<br />
shifted responsibility for thousands <strong>of</strong> people convicted <strong>of</strong> nonviolent crimes from state<br />
prisons to counties. People convicted <strong>of</strong> nonviolent crimes would now serve sentences<br />
<strong>in</strong> county jails, not prison, and local communities, rather than state parole, were<br />
responsible for supervis<strong>in</strong>g them upon release.<br />
As part <strong>of</strong> AB 109, the state promised to shift billions <strong>of</strong> dollars to the counties. San<br />
Joaqu<strong>in</strong> County decided to use its money—about $6.8 million <strong>in</strong> the first year—on its<br />
day report<strong>in</strong>g center; specialty courts aimed at help<strong>in</strong>g former prisoners transition back<br />
to the community; and expanded use <strong>of</strong> a risk assessment tool to rank each former<br />
<strong>in</strong>mate’s likelihood <strong>of</strong> committ<strong>in</strong>g new crimes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> county tracked data on each person affected by the new laws. James said she<br />
noticed the vast majority <strong>of</strong> arrests <strong>of</strong> former prisoners were for property crimes. To her<br />
relief, the county’s homicides fell by nearly 50 percent <strong>in</strong> 2013.<br />
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