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Indybay Feature
Thousands to be released from California prisons and SF will get its share of parolees.
The City and County of Sana Francisco better prepare itself, seriously to accommodate thousands of parolees who will be released according to a new policy signed by the California State Department of Prisons. Now, murderers and those serving large sentences will not be released easily - but, what we will see are thousands of prisoners with lesser sentences. Those deemed to stay longer with light convictions; will be given there releases - earlier. In the last five years - the prisoners have had reduced rehabilitation and there was been drastic cuts when it comes to education and drug rehabilitation. San Francisco's mild weather and choice programs offer shelter, food, health services, other amenities - that are better provided in San Francisco then most any where. This has attracted newly released prisoners to head for San Francisco - as do the many homeless - too.
Incarceration is billion dollar business - and in years past - every possible ploy was used to send women and men to prison.
Many of you have heard about the Three Strikes Law - that law was abused and in a very short time - many who had committed one strike - if found guilty on another charge - were penalized by adding a couple of strikes and sending often innocent folks - for long periods to jail.
Now, if you are a mother, a relative, a friend, some that cares - you may know about such innocent persons that are in jails - lingering and waiting for a miracle to happen. Such cases can affect any family and cause a lot of stress.
The Three Strikes has back fired - and now the State cannot afford to incarcerate those some thought was the best way to propagate - gentrification. The author of the Three Strike is a well known RACIST.
The same person who initiated and passed the Three Strike law - not too long ago - wanted to apply the same law to young people - those fourteen years and below eighteen. Lucky for us - we were able to organize and shoot down his evil - ploy.
Now, this policy releasing the prisoners early - by Governor Jerry Brown may bring some solace to a small group of prisoners - and many who would linger in jail for a longer period - the many will walk past the doors of freedom - in a couple of months.
However, no arrangement less funding has been given to the local authorities to be prepared for the impending moment of large releases.
In San Francisco, we are facing a large deficit of over $400 million to date. This deficit is growing.
Right now, the interim Mayor is working with the Unions to address the issue of pensions, Full Time Employee benefits, issues with MUNI our public transportation system and so on. All these issues contribute to our large deficit.
Our City population is 816,000. We have over 26,000 City employees. Many work hard and there are others that are only interested in there pay check. Many live outside San Francisco and do not think twice - about the large deficit and bringing our City to the verge of bankruptcy.
If our health system, our local parole system, our housing, our educational facilities - are bombarded by an influx of released parolees - it will adversely impact the entire system of our City and County of San Francisco.
Our City is aware of this issue and our Public Defender and some SF Board of Supervisors closer to Jeff Adachi the Public Defender - are talking about this serious issue; involving the release of large number of parolees. However, right now we do not have a Blue Print in place to address the issues at hand.
Add to this adverse situation; the fact that our well recognized and compassionate Sheriff is leaving office after over thirty five years of service and qualified experience - and we will have a large void to fill.
A large percentage of our prisons are filled with patients that have mental problems.
Many of those in prison have mental issues - and it is a fact that one of the best places for those indigents to receive good mental health care - are found in our City jails. The doctors, the nurses, the volunteer do excellent job - and in this respect we in San Francisco - are fortunate.
When a certain segment of the population is adversely impacted - then most other segments of the population are impacted.
The San Francisco General Hospital is already over loaded. Most of the released prisoners will go to the SF General Hospital - and the already long lines will grow longer, for urgent medical services.
The same holds true when it comes to housing, shelter, education, and other public services.
Our SF Board of Supervisors know about this train that has left the station and is heading at high speed towards San Francisco - but, there has been no meaningful hearing, less blue print, no action to lay some sound foundation to help our soon to be released incarcerated; sisters and brothers.
We can permit the SF State University, other institutions that deal with the incarcerated to help us come out with a viable Blue Print. We should count on the other so called experts that are paid and do not think outside the box.
The good thing going for this City is we have a Public Defender and a new Chief of Police that can dialog. These two can dialog with the interim District Attorney and speed up a Blue Print to accommodate the thousands - soon to be released.
As usually happens - the SF Board of Supervisors, the other City Departments are all concerned about Budget Cut - and the release of the impending parolles - is low on their totem pole and their moot plans linked to such issues.
As I said - Quality of Life issues will be drastically impacted - we have some time - but not too much time - to think fast and act faster.
Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy
Many of you have heard about the Three Strikes Law - that law was abused and in a very short time - many who had committed one strike - if found guilty on another charge - were penalized by adding a couple of strikes and sending often innocent folks - for long periods to jail.
Now, if you are a mother, a relative, a friend, some that cares - you may know about such innocent persons that are in jails - lingering and waiting for a miracle to happen. Such cases can affect any family and cause a lot of stress.
The Three Strikes has back fired - and now the State cannot afford to incarcerate those some thought was the best way to propagate - gentrification. The author of the Three Strike is a well known RACIST.
The same person who initiated and passed the Three Strike law - not too long ago - wanted to apply the same law to young people - those fourteen years and below eighteen. Lucky for us - we were able to organize and shoot down his evil - ploy.
Now, this policy releasing the prisoners early - by Governor Jerry Brown may bring some solace to a small group of prisoners - and many who would linger in jail for a longer period - the many will walk past the doors of freedom - in a couple of months.
However, no arrangement less funding has been given to the local authorities to be prepared for the impending moment of large releases.
In San Francisco, we are facing a large deficit of over $400 million to date. This deficit is growing.
Right now, the interim Mayor is working with the Unions to address the issue of pensions, Full Time Employee benefits, issues with MUNI our public transportation system and so on. All these issues contribute to our large deficit.
Our City population is 816,000. We have over 26,000 City employees. Many work hard and there are others that are only interested in there pay check. Many live outside San Francisco and do not think twice - about the large deficit and bringing our City to the verge of bankruptcy.
If our health system, our local parole system, our housing, our educational facilities - are bombarded by an influx of released parolees - it will adversely impact the entire system of our City and County of San Francisco.
Our City is aware of this issue and our Public Defender and some SF Board of Supervisors closer to Jeff Adachi the Public Defender - are talking about this serious issue; involving the release of large number of parolees. However, right now we do not have a Blue Print in place to address the issues at hand.
Add to this adverse situation; the fact that our well recognized and compassionate Sheriff is leaving office after over thirty five years of service and qualified experience - and we will have a large void to fill.
A large percentage of our prisons are filled with patients that have mental problems.
Many of those in prison have mental issues - and it is a fact that one of the best places for those indigents to receive good mental health care - are found in our City jails. The doctors, the nurses, the volunteer do excellent job - and in this respect we in San Francisco - are fortunate.
When a certain segment of the population is adversely impacted - then most other segments of the population are impacted.
The San Francisco General Hospital is already over loaded. Most of the released prisoners will go to the SF General Hospital - and the already long lines will grow longer, for urgent medical services.
The same holds true when it comes to housing, shelter, education, and other public services.
Our SF Board of Supervisors know about this train that has left the station and is heading at high speed towards San Francisco - but, there has been no meaningful hearing, less blue print, no action to lay some sound foundation to help our soon to be released incarcerated; sisters and brothers.
We can permit the SF State University, other institutions that deal with the incarcerated to help us come out with a viable Blue Print. We should count on the other so called experts that are paid and do not think outside the box.
The good thing going for this City is we have a Public Defender and a new Chief of Police that can dialog. These two can dialog with the interim District Attorney and speed up a Blue Print to accommodate the thousands - soon to be released.
As usually happens - the SF Board of Supervisors, the other City Departments are all concerned about Budget Cut - and the release of the impending parolles - is low on their totem pole and their moot plans linked to such issues.
As I said - Quality of Life issues will be drastically impacted - we have some time - but not too much time - to think fast and act faster.
Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy
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