Federal Judge Voices Support for Early Release of Inmates

At a trial focused on overcrowding in California prisons on Tuesday, a federal judge said that releasing inmates early might be the best option to ensure adequate medical care in state prisons. The three-judge panel is expected to rule this week on whether overcrowding is the main cause of poor medical and mental health care in California prisons. AP/Oakland Tribune.

• "Judge Leans Toward Early Release of Calif. Inmates" (Thompson, AP/Oakland Tribune, 12/3).