California Lawmakers Push for Another Prison Closure After Surplus Capacity Report

Overview

• The Legislative Analyst’s Office reported prisons can house about 98,000 people, leaving roughly 8,000 beds unused under the court-ordered 137.5% cap.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has shut five facilities and plans to close the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco by October, with each closure estimated to save about $150 million annually.
• The analyst’s office urged lawmakers to withhold major repairs at prisons that could be shuttered and flagged the Correctional Training Facility in Monterey County due to costly fixes.
• Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Macomber cautioned that each remaining prison gains about 100 inmates after a closure, driving more double-celling, longer program waitlists and possible public-safety impacts.
• The corrections budget is projected at about $18 billion next year, representing roughly 5.6% of state spending, while some legislators, including Sen. Laura Richardson, voiced support for double-celling to prioritize other services.