California to Pilot New Parole Program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to launch a pilot program that could release thousands of offenders from parole.

The pilot initiative would encourage parolees to attend rehabilitation and treatment programs with the incentive of ending their paroles terms sooner. Parolees could be discharged after six months, officials say.

Under the plan, technical or minor violations of parole would result in offenders being diverted to alternative rehabilitation and treatment programs rather than being returned to prison.

With the exclusion of gang members and violent and sex offenders, the state will evaluate parolees for program eligibility according to the type of crime committed, criminal history, behavior on parole and several other factors.

California has almost 130,000 offenders on parole, but only about half of parolees in the pilot districts would likely be eligible. The state parole board must approve program candidates identified during the initial screening process and less than 50 percent of eligible offenders would likely gain parole board approval for shortened parole, officials say.

Beginning in Orange and San Bernardino counties, the program is intended to foster rehabilitation and reduce recidivism among nonviolent and minor-offense parolees, allowing overburdened parole officers to concentrate on monitoring more serious offenders, officials say.

If successful, the trial program would be expanded statewide, brining California in line with 33 other states that screen parolees to determine the need for monitoring.

California currently has no process to assess suitability for early discharge from parole and offenders must remain under supervision for at least one year. Illinois is the only other state that requires all offenders to be placed on parole.