Prisoner reentry
The Inland Empire Cops & Clergy Network's forum on prisoner reentry is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning.
Prison overcrowding and the Sacramento's ongoing budget deficits raise the possibility that several prisoners will be granted early release.
That's not a certainty, however. Word from the California prison guards' union is that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's announced plan to shunt more than 22,000 nonviolent prisoners from their cells as a cost-saving measure is merely a scare tactic to make other unpleasant budget choices (e.g. taxes) a more palatable.
Only time will tell whether thousands of inmates will be released ahead of schedule. But unless California wants to start handing out life sentences to car thieves and stick-up artists, criminals will eventually be back on the streets regardless of what happens.
Thursday's forum is intended to spur discussion on what can be done to transform ex-cons to productive individuals. The Cops & Clergy Network wants to establish an environment where churches and law enforcers create a system to make rehabiliation actually happen.
Members of the public can attend, but there is a $25 fee at the door. The event is scheduled to be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Day Harvest City Church, 1125 B Research Drive in Redlands.