By Just A Guy
Editors note: Just A Guy is an inmate in a California state prison. He writes on life behind bars and tries to explain to Californians what their taxes — huge amounts of their taxes — are paying for. He will attempt to answer all questions and comments, but it’s hard to communicate from a state prison, so it may take a while. His last post is here.
Hello everybody. I’m happy that many more people responded to my previous blog than I expected. I am glad that you were able to speak out a little on a more widely read forum. This seems to be working and maybe people will wake up to what’s really happening.
On to business.
So, Arnold is considering releasing many more inmates than the 8,000 initially proposed by his administration. I am not sure what the latest numbers are, I am hearing everything from 20,0000 to 38,000 potential releases. There’s even talk of selling San Quentin. Let’s all hope for the best, but let’s examine this a little deeper.
First, let me say this: I think it’s strange that Arnold is going to show the public two budget proposals, one if the propositions don’t pass and one for if they do. I strongly suspect the one for non-passage is going to be a scare tactic with which he threatens the mass release of prisoners into the public. Your neighborhoods will be overrun by all these horrible prisoners, so you’d better pass these propositions or the ex-cons will be next door to you come July!
Wow! I hope that’s not what it he says, but I think he will.
What about all these “hardened” criminals that shouldn’t be let out, or certainly not let out early? Let’s talk about them. What about all the lifers that get parole dates, but then the governor in his “Governor’s Review” denies the person his/her parole out of hand? What is the purpose of a parole board if the governor has the final say? Seems to be just more people (the parole board) supping at the trough of your tax money.