Governor’s Plan To Reduce Prison Population Rejected

A panel of three federal judges rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) proposal to reduce the state prison population and asked the administration to submit another proposal in 21 days. The judges said they would consider other proposals if the state does not provide an acceptable plan to reduce overcrowding.  Judges have ruled that prisons fall short of constitutional requirements for medical and mental health care because of overcrowding.

• "Judges Reject California Plan To Cut Prison Crowding" (Rothfeld, Los Angeles Times, 10/22).
• "Court Rejects Governor's Plan To Solve Prison Overcrowding" (Mintz, San Jose Mercury News, 10/21).
• "Federal Judges Reject California's Plan To Cut Prison Population" (Small, "KPCC News," KPCC, 10/21).