News and Blogs Together, Thursday, August 2, 2007

• Jonathan Simon takes a break from his Governing Through Crime blog to do an op-ed for the LA Times outlining as well as possible the realistic approach to dealing with CA's prison pop problems and its (so far leading) opposite approach. (h/t Real Cost of Prisons). Looking at the potential population cap as an opportunity for new direction and national leadership is a proactive and hopeful perspective. As long as we keep defaulting to the old tried-and-pretty-conspicuously-failing ways, we never get away from the budget problems that things like housing downturns are going to exacerbate in a major way (already are). Not to mention the other public safety needs that get treated as if they don't exist until the bridge collapses.
• Here's something you don't see every day--a state saying it needs fewer judges. Actually, you do hear that in some states, but usually by disgruntled opponents, not the state's own court administrative office.
• Finally, Prevention Works raises the point that, as we deal with prison pops and budget problems, private prisons deserve more attention, not just for their possible use but for their actual effectiveness as well. If you're going to invest in something that profits from crime and, if used extensively, makes it virtually impossible to back away from them or avoid much higher prices when they become indispensible, you should probably have done your homework well in advance. PW doesn't take a position, just advises thinking things through. Just like your mom used to do. And remember how well that worked?