SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A new report says California, which has a declining prison population, could save more than $1 billion by closing eight lockups.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office released a report Thursday saying the state has seen a reduction in its inmate population because of early releases and other actions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report also says parole and sentencing law changes may flatten the prison population in the next few years.
The report says the population changes, coupled with closing five adult prisons and three juvenile facilities, could save the corrections system $1.5 billion a year by 2025.
"The administration has indicated it plans to close one prison in 2021‑22 and another in 2022‑23 in order to accommodate the ongoing decline in the inmate population, primarily resulting from Proposition 57 (2016)" the analysis reads. "The budget package includes legislation requiring CDCR to inform the Legislature of the specific prisons to be closed by January 10, 2021 and January 10, 2022. The administration estimates the closures will result in $400 million in ongoing savings annually within a few years."
