The Cornerstone of California’s Solution to Reduce Overcrowding, Costs, and Recidivism

In 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Assembly Bill (AB) 109 and AB 117, historic legislation that will enable California to close the revolving door of low-level inmates cycling in and out of state prisons. It is the cornerstone of California’s solution for reducing the number of inmates in the state’s 33 prison to 137.5 percent of design capacity by June 27, 2013, as ordered  by the Three-Judge Court and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

All provisions of AB 109 and AB 117 are prospective and implementation of the 2011 Realignment Legislation will begin October 1, 2011. No inmates currently in state prison will be transferred to county jails or released early.

Governor Brown also signed multiple trailer bills to ensure the 2011 Realignment secured proper funding before implementation could go into effect.

"For too long, the state’s prison system has been a revolving door for lower-level offenders and parole violators who are released within months—often before they are even transferred out of a reception center. Cycling these offenders through state prisons wastes money, aggravates crowded conditions, thwarts rehabilitation, and impedes local law enforcement supervision." – Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Governor’s Press Release, April 5, 2011.

The 2011 Realignment is funded with a dedicated portion of state sales tax revenue and Vehicle License Fees (VLF) outlined in trailer bills AB 118 and SB 89. The latter provides revenue to counties for local public safety programs and the former establishes the Local Revenue Fund 2011 (Fund) for counties to receive the revenues and appropriate funding for 2011 Public Safety Realignment.  

Weekly Population figures

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Weekly Population Figures

Mouse over each node to see the exact population for the date shown

*3-Judge Court order impacts population levels in the State's 33 institutions.
**Overall population includes all inmates in 33 institutions, fire camps, private facilities (in-state and out-of-state).

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Governor Brown Speaks at Statewide Conference on Public Safety Realignment

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. vowed to more than 500 local law enforcement officials at a statewide conference on public safety realignment to do “whatever it takes” to provide constitutional protection for realignment funding.

“I’m not leaving Sacramento until we get a constitutional guarantee to protect law enforcement and the whole realignment process,” Governor Brown said. “We will do whatever it takes to get the constitutional protection because public safety is the number one responsibility of government. I recognize that and I want to work with you to achieve it.” View Video

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An Overview of AB 109, the 2011 Public Safety Realignment

Darby Kernan, Assistant Secretary, Office of Legislation, provides an overview of the implementation of Assembly Bill 109 – the 2011 Public Safety Realignment. The law, effective October 1, 2011, mandates that individuals sentenced to non-serious, non-violent or non-sex offenses will serve their sentences in county jails instead of state prison. No inmates currently in state prison will be transferred to county jails or released early.

• AB 109 Overview (PDF)

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