KQED's Forum What’s Driving California’s Shrinking Prison Population?
Sep 18, 2025
Joining the discussion are Nigel Duara, a justice reporter with a focus on California's criminal justice policy; Heather Harris, a research fellow specializing in criminal justice; and Caitlin O'Neill, a principal fiscal analyst. They explore California's dramatic decrease in prison population, driven by new policies and courtroom mandates. The conversation highlights the implications of prison closures on local communities, budgetary savings, and evolving rehabilitation opportunities, along with the rationale behind shifts in parole and sentencing policies.
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Older Prisons Are Prime Closure Targets
- California is closing prisons partly because older facilities cost more to maintain and serve fewer strategic purposes.
- Local leaders sometimes prefer closures if the facility is aging and alternative economic uses exist.
Prison Population Plummeted Since 2006
- California's prison population fell from a 2006 peak of ~173,000 to about 95,000 today, driven by policy and demographic shifts.
- The state is now under the court-mandated crowding limit and can deactivate facilities as a result.
Three-Pronged Strategy To Reduce Crowding
- California used three strategies to meet court limits: change policies, add capacity, and contract beds.
- Contracting and infill raised the capacity limit while policy cuts reduced headcount.