BAKERSFIELD, CA- After two years of Governor Jerry Brown's prison realignment plan, local officials discussed whether it's working at a forum Wednesday night at Cal State Bakersfield.
Prison realignment, known as AB 109, aims to reduce overcrowding in state prisons by moving prisoners into county facilities.
The governor's plan targets inmates who are considered non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious offenders.
Wednesday night, local law enforcement officials gave presentations and took questions.
Some participants said prison realignment is extremely costly, a big burden to the county, and cities, and puts the public at risk.
"At this point in time I would not say that realignment has made the community safer. I think the opposite is true," said Kern County District Attorney Lisa Green.
"In detentions, the overcrowding we experienced before re-alignment, is now accentuated with realignment. There's just not room in the jail for more people," said Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
However, participants say the good news is prison realignment is bringing more state funding to the city and county.
They say that money is being used wisely by hiring more people to handle the heavier caseloads.
Prison realignment, known as AB 109, aims to reduce overcrowding in state prisons by moving prisoners into county facilities.
The governor's plan targets inmates who are considered non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious offenders.
Wednesday night, local law enforcement officials gave presentations and took questions.
Some participants said prison realignment is extremely costly, a big burden to the county, and cities, and puts the public at risk.
"At this point in time I would not say that realignment has made the community safer. I think the opposite is true," said Kern County District Attorney Lisa Green.
"In detentions, the overcrowding we experienced before re-alignment, is now accentuated with realignment. There's just not room in the jail for more people," said Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
However, participants say the good news is prison realignment is bringing more state funding to the city and county.
They say that money is being used wisely by hiring more people to handle the heavier caseloads.