New 'Re-Entry' Facility Aims to Help Reform Cal Prison System
California's getting its first facility aimed at preparing prisoners for life on the outside. Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law on Wednesday creating it.
A former women's prison in Stockton is being converted into the “community re-entry facility” for male inmates. It's part of the state's multi-billion dollar plan to reform the prison system and reduce overcrowding.
The governor says this is a turning point in the state's rehabilitation efforts.
Schwarzenegger : What will make this different is that they will get great rehabilitation programs like counseling, anger management, substance abuse, job training, housing placement and so on. Help that they really need to go out into society, to return to society as law-abiding citizens.
Other similar facilities are planned throughout the state. Altogether, they should house 16,000 inmates during the final months before they're to be released.
