Governor Proposes Prison Expansion Plan
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Thursday announced a prison expansion plan that will include funding for new medical and mental health facilities, the Fresno Bee reports (Schultz, Fresno Bee, 12/22).
The governor's $10.9 billion plan includes $1 billion for the construction of medical, dental and mental health facilities (Halper/Warren, Los Angeles Times, 12/22). The plan calls for 10,000 new hospital beds at small facilities throughout the state (Furillo, Sacramento Bee, 12/22).
The expansion complies with a recommendation by two court-appointed receivers, including Robert Sillen, the receiver in charge of reforming the state's prison system.
Schwarzenegger this summer followed Sillen's suggestion and proposed building two new prisons to house 10,000 inmates with physical or mental illnesses. However, the Legislature ended its session before approving the plan (California Healthline, 12/21).