Schwarzenegger Seeks to Head Off Early Release

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- A three-judge panel was appointed this week to address California’s overcrowded prison system, but Governor Schwarzenegger is trying to block them from meeting to consider the early release of thousands of inmates.

The panel, made up of U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson of San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kelton of Sacramento and 9th Circuit Court Judge Stephen Reinhardt of Los Angeles, was officially appointed late this week. The Schwarzenegger administration is appealing the order to create the panel.

"The judges ruling this week ordered the formation of a three-judge panel to evaluate the overcrowded conditions, but one of the rulings also said that if we address the overcrowding on our own, the panel would not need to take any radical steps. That is exactly what we have been doing," said Schwarzenegger.

Henderson and Kelton have already ruled that prison crowding is leading to unconstitutional conditions and Reinhardt is considered one of the most liberal judges on the 9th Circuit. Schwarzenegger has made clear he is committed to making sure a solution does not include early release for any prison inmates.

"I'm here to tell you that the early release of inmates is totally unacceptable," he said. "We are meeting the challenge head-on to make sure that no prisoner is ever released because of overcrowding. They should only be let out when they have served their sentences and are ready to be returned to society, period."

(RdD)