NON-PROFIT DROPS EAST SAN JOSE PRISON PLAN

Proposal To House Women Inmates Met Strong Criticism

In the face of a massive backlash from residents and city officials, a
San Francisco-based non-profit group on Monday abruptly dropped its
plans to bring a women's prison to East San Jose.

Linda Connelly, president and CEO of Leaders in Community
Alternatives, withdrew the company's application for a low-risk
women's correctional facility at Alum Rock and Kirk avenues.

"Our intent was never to develop this site without the consent of the
neighbors, and it was apparent there was not enough support to
continue with the process," Connelly said in an e-mail to neighbors.
"I want to apologize to you that it appeared as though we were trying
to push this project on the neighborhood without your
involvement."

The criminal justice and social service company was pursuing a
4.26-acre site, formerly the home of the Marguerite Terrace retirement
home, to house non-violent offenders. The women would have done
community volunteer work such as landscaping or removing graffiti.

Looking to reduce the number of inmates in California's overcrowded
prisons, state officials are seeking to partner with private companies
to transfer up to 1,200 women from prisons into "rehabilitative
community correction facilities."

The state has been deluged with requests for funding from private
companies. With competition so great, and so much opposition, Connelly
felt it would be even tougher to compete for the funds.

Critics of the prison proposal praised the decision to withdraw
it.

"I couldn't be happier," said Maureen Riley-Behlen, who lives in the
neighborhood. "One of my biggest concerns was that it was just not the
fact of who was going to live there, but who was going to visit them.
We don't need more trouble for our community."

Riley-Behlen said it is important to remember that the inmates could
be dangerous.

"These women are in prison for a reason," she said. "I don't think
these women are sitting around waiting for George Clooney to date them."

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, who along with Councilwoman Nora Campos
wrote a memo blasting the idea, was thrilled with the company's
decision to back off.

"This particular location is just not suited for the type of facility
they wanted to put in there," he said. "We understand that we need to
have re-entry facilities in San Jose. I have told the governor we are
certainly willing to help them find a good location."

Connelly insisted that Santa Clara County should be home to a facility
for low-risk female inmates. But it might take at least another year
until the state makes funding available again.

"It is a huge disappointment," she said. "I am sad for the women who
are not going to have an opportunity."