Editorial Says Compromise Prison Population Plan Is ‘Welcome,’ but Should Be Backed by ‘Concrete’ Steps

A Sacramento Bee editorial argues that while a "new consensus" between Gov. Jerry Brown (D) and lawmakers that would ask for more time to meet a federal court-ordered prison population cap and provide $400 million for inmate rehabilitation services "is welcome," California residents "should be skeptical unless the vague language is backed by concrete steps and benchmarks." The editorial concludes that if federal judges grant the extension, "the governor and legislators will have to make good on reducing recidivism -- with hard deadlines -- a task that had been abandoned for too long in favor of prison warehousing."

• "Editorial: State Prison Compromise Potentially Offers a Way Forward" (Sacramento Bee, 9/10).