Calif. Nears Target Prison Population Under Realignment
California has reduced its inmate population to 140% of design capacity of state prisons, putting the state in position to reach a court-mandated prison population reduction of 141.5% of capacity. The reduction order came after U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson in 2006 ruled that federal oversight of the state's prison health care system was needed after determining that an average of one inmate per week died as a result of medical malpractice or neglect.
- "Major Progress Cited in Prison Inmate Care" (Stanton/Walsh, Sacramento Bee, 12/20/14).