BILL NUMBER: SB 678	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Leno

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act relating to crime.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 678, as introduced, Leno. Criminal recidivism.
   Existing law establishes provisions authorizing the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation to oversee programs for the purposes
of reducing parolee recidivism.
   This bill would set forth the Legislature's intent to enact
legislation that would reduce recidivism and improve public safety by
redirecting state public resources to community corrections for the
purpose of intervention and supervision over nonviolent offenders
facing short prison commitments as an alternative to state prison.
The bill would also declare the Legislature's intent to authorize a
county, city and county, or a collaboration of counties or cities and
counties to establish a community corrections program to which
convicted felony offenders who are not required to register as sex
offenders and have never been convicted of a serious felony or a
violent felony may be sentenced for up to 9 months, followed by a
4-year probationary period. The bill would also set forth the
Legislature's intent to enact legislation funding the community
corrections program from the General Fund redirecting state prison
incarceration costs to the costs of these community corrections
programs.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would reduce recidivism and improve public safety by
redirecting state public safety resources to community corrections
for the purpose of developing a system of intense and strategic
community intervention and supervision over nonviolent offenders who
are facing short prison commitments as an alternative to state
prison.
   (b) It is also the intent of the Legislature to authorize a
county, a city and county, or a collaboration of counties or cities
and counties to establish a community corrections program to which
convicted felony offenders who are not required to register as sex
offenders pursuant to Section 290, who were not sentenced for any
offense that is a serious felony, as defined in Section 1192.7, or a
violent felony, as defined in Section 667.5, and who do not have a
prior conviction for a serious felony, as defined in Section 1192.7,
or a violent felony, as defined in Section 667.5, could be sentenced
by a court for up to nine months, followed by a probationary period
of up to four years.
   (c) It is also the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
that would fund the community corrections program through funding
from the General Fund, and that these funds would be derived from
redirecting state prison incarceration costs to the costs of these
community corrections programs.