We cannot have a safe and just society until we learn to push ourselves beyond simply catching and punishing offenders. California needs to put much more effort into repairing the harm done to crime victims, restoring the neighborhood's sense of safety after a crime occurs, and in most cases, re-uniting the offender with family, work, and a supportive community. We also need to invest intelligently in programs that steer young people who are at risk for involvement in gangs toward good jobs, athletics, and community service. This page provides access to Research pages on alternatives to imprisonment Treat Mental Illness, Don't Imprison after-school youth programs violence prevention programs restorative and transformative justice juvenile boot camps drug treatment prisons Institutional Crisis in Prisons and Youth Authority California's prisons are too big to work. Lock-downs have become a standard way of doing business.
Staff turnover is high and morale is low.
The governor vetoed proposals during the 2000 session as if he simply wanted to put a lid on these problems. To salvage the humanity of prisoners and staff, FCL seeks alternatives to imprisonment that will lead to smaller prison populations. There also need to be many more education and work opportunities for people who are in jail and prison. The situation and needs are similar in the California Youth Authority. Its over-sized institutions are still suffering from the loss of confidence in rehabilitation that began during Governor Wilson's administration.