SOLUTION TO INMATE OVERCROWDING IS MORE PRISONS, NOT FEWER PRISONERS

California's prison system is literally bursting at the seams and
stands at the point of crisis.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join my Assembly Republican
colleagues on a tour of Folsom State Prison. Going behind the iron
gates, we saw the overcrowded facilities and learned about the
less-than-effective rehabilitation programs and health care programs
that have come under scrutiny from the federal courts. We learned
that at some prisons, inmates are even being housed in dayrooms and
gymnasiums, which are less than secure and put correctional officers at risk.

For too long, the Legislature has virtually ignored prison
overcrowding. In fact, just one new 3,000-bed prison facility has
been built in the state over the past 15 years, despite the fact that
the prison population has grown significantly. Gov. Schwarzenegger
declared a special legislative session last summer to address the
prison crisis, but his reforms were all rejected with little debate.

Now California faces the very real prospect of serious and repeat
criminals living in our neighborhoods unless the Legislature steps up
to the plate soon to build more prison capacity. Schwarzenegger again
has proposed building 34,000 beds at the state and local levels.
These beds would relieve the state's overcrowding and provide the
state a roadmap to reform.

Lawmakers must take action now to build new prison facilities and
expand existing ones, provide for the adequate treatment of prisoners
and improve rehabilitation programs to reduce our high recidivism rate.

After months of inaction, some in Sacramento have proposed a
sentencing review commission as their solution to reduce prison
overcrowding, arguing that our prisons are nearly full today because
too many "nonviolent" prisoners are serving time under mandatory
sentencing laws. They contend that these felons pose no danger to
society and should be released into the community to free up prison beds.

Make no mistake, when we talk about a sentencing review commission,
we are not talking about releasing those convicted of parking
violations, but rather the early release of serious and repeat
criminals into communities across the state. Consider that California
prisons are home to some of the most dangerous and violent criminals
in the entire country -- with more than 80 percent of inmates having
been convicted of at least one prior felony, according to the
Department of Corrections. Even worse, 12 percent have had an
astonishing 11 or more prior convictions.

I don't believe giving thousands of serious and repeat criminals a
get-out-of-jail-early card is the responsible way to solve our prison
problems. Our prisons are not overcrowded because we are locking up
too many murderers, rapists and sexual predators, but rather because
we have not built enough capacity.

I will strongly resist any effort to take California back to the
soft-on-crime policies that caused many to live in fear in their own
homes. Rather than let out dangerous criminals before they have paid
their debt to society, my Republican colleagues and

I will fight hard to build the additional prison space California
needs to keep them locked up behind bars and away from our families.

Berryhill represents the 25th Assembly District, which includes part
of Stanislaus County and all of Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.