California Governor Jerry Brown is reassuring county officials anxious over the lack of a long-term funding source for the governor’s realignment plan. That’s the effort to shift responsibility for low-level, non-violent offenders to counties.
“Now some of you think that when I’m gone or something, they’re gonna take it away from you," said Brown. "I wanna tell you, I’m not leaving Sacramento until we get a constitutional guarantee to protect law enforcement and the whole realignment process so you get the funding you need to make the thing work."
The governor spoke to a room full of sheriffs, probation chiefs and other public safety officials Wednesday. They were in town for a conference on effective realignment strategies.
The plan Brown signed into law this summer is intended to save the state money and give local officials more decision-making authority. But many Republicans worry it will put more criminals on the streets. It’s set to take effect October 1st.
