Brown Eyes Ballot Measure To Fund Prison Realignment Plan

On Wednesday, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) pledged to introduce a November 2012 ballot measure that would guarantee adequate funding for California's prison realignment plan. In April, Brown signed into law a plan to transfer the responsibility of tens of thousands of low-level offenders from the state to counties. The plan is in response to the state's fiscal problems and a federal court order requiring the state to reduce its prison population as a way to improve inmate medical care. Details of the ballot measure are not clear, but the funding guarantee could be included with a package of tax increases that Brown is expected to introduce next year.

• "Jerry Brown Wants To Ensure Funds for Inmate Shift to Counties" (Siders, Sacramento Bee, 9/22).
• "Brown Guarantees Prison Reform Funding" (AP/San Jose Mercury News, 9/21).