California

California Votes in Prop. 57 to Give Prison Officials More Say About Releasing Inmates

Voters have approved a proposition giving California prison officials more say about when to release prisoners.

Proposition 57 marks a bid by Gov. Jerry Brown to reduce the state prison population and restore balance to a legal code that Brown says has become overburdened with get-tough policies.

It passed Tuesday with 65 percent of the vote.

The measure strips prosecutors of the power to decide when juveniles should be tried as adults and leaves those decisions to judges.

The measure will allow inmates to seek earlier parole hearings unless they have been convicted of about two dozen crimes specifically classified as violent.

Corrections officials will be able to give earlier release credits to inmates, including those convicted of violent crimes.

Law enforcement officials said the initiative gives bureaucrats too much power.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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