Argument: Assembly Bill 109

     The state of California is at a very critical crossroads in its one hundred forty-seven year history as part of the union. In additions to having one of this Nations highest unemployment rates, and the Nations highest gasoline prices, California also has several controversial legal arguments pending. Same sex marriage is a huge dilemma, and the constitutional relevance of immigration reform also has both moral and legal ramifications. However, when making a decision concerning the safety of the public, none of the adversities that California confronts, has more ability to disrupt the stability of the residence of this state then realignment.

     After the Supreme Court ruled that California must reduce its prison population, the Governor signed Assembly Bill 109, also known as “Realignment” into the states legislation. AB109 permits the state to shift the responsibility of felons who are eligible for parole, and who qualifies under what is referred to as the “Non Non Non,” non serious, non sexual and non violent crimes, to the jurisdiction of the county. Felons who also commit new crimes under the same criteria’s will no longer serve their sentence at a state correctional facility, but instead remain incarcerated in a county facility for the duration of their sentence.

      The counties which the state are releasing these individuals are not equipped, or trained, nor have the financial capability to adequately provide the services necessary to substantially assist these individuals in transitioning back into society. The governors endorsement of this bill renders felons released under AB109 vulnerable, and it makes our communities volatile.  Realignment and catastrophe are synonymous, and to say that the return to custody rate will double, and the crime rate will triple in our communities is redundant. AB109 is nothing more than another ploy to dump the burden of the States financial troubles on the backs of its minorities, and let us not be deceived by bureaucracy. Any measure that claims to allocate monies to finance AB109 that may appear on future ballots may not be forthright. In my opinion, until we can be certain that any of our future tax dollars deducted for this purpose is going to go to the benefit of individuals being released from custody entirely, we should simply vote no.