Opinion: Why closing prisons will open a new path toward a safer California
When a crime occurs it’s too late. Someone has been harmed and a victim’s sense of safety has been shattered. Historically, our nation’s preferred “solution” to this kind of harm has been to search for and punish the perpetrator, usually by imposing a prison sentence. In recent years, however, there has been increasing recognition that there are more effective ways to protect public safety.
California’s embrace of mass incarceration began in the 1970s. Fueled by a “punishment first” mentality during a “tough on crime” era, California abandoned any serious commitment to rehabilitation. Driven by fear, politics, and media sensationalism, we invested heavily in police and prisons, constructing a vast network of massive penal institutions that were incredibly costly to operate. Since 1980, we have built 22 new prisons and just one new UC campus.
By closing some of the California prisons that are no longer needed, Governor Newsom is freeing up billions of dollars that can be reinvested into addressing the well-known root causes of crime, and by doing so can help ensure that there will be far fewer crime victims in California’s future. For example, these savings can be invested in education programs that provide young people with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
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