The cornerstone of the plan is Governor Brown's realignment
proposal, which would send state prisoners to county jails.
But that proposal has no long-term funding source.
Corrections Secretary Matthew Cate says the state doesn't have
the time to wait for voters to approve a permanent funding source
in a fall special election. So the inmate shift would begin
if lawmakers temporarily extend tax increases as part of a budget
deal.
Cate: "Assuming that the current
tax structure is extended, we will start realignment as soon as
there's funding and as soon as we decide - along with our law
enforcement partners - that we're ready to embark on this
safely. That's when we'll start."
But if realignment starts and then the tax extensions fail,
there's no fallback plan.
Cate: "We would have to find
another source of funding, because it's really gonna be difficult
to back off realignment once you start."
And Cate says he doesn't know what that other funding source
might be.
The administration's other strategies to reduce overcrowding
include more prison construction and increasing the number of
inmates in out-of-state facilities.