The Diversity of Decarceration: Examining First-Year County Realignment Spending in California

Publication Date

4-26-2016

Document Type

Article

Organizational Units

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Sociology and Criminology

Keywords

Correctional policies, Correctional spending, Decarceration, Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), Realignment

Abstract

In recent years, California has dramatically restructured its correctional system through a policy called “Realignment,” which shifts responsibility over thousands of offenders from the state to its counties. To help manage this influx, the state allocated US$2 billion through 2014 to the counties. Counties have used these funds in different ways. Some have adhered to Realignment’s intended focus on evidence-based programming, whereas others have focused on expanding enforcement and custodial capacities. I analyze first-year (2011-2012) county Realignment budgets to identify political, economic, and criminal justice factors that explain different spending emphases. Using quantitative and comparative methods, I find that counties focus on enforcement spending because of pressing local needs related to crime and justice, and counties focus on services spending when sheriffs—key figures in Realignment administration—are politically secure. These findings have practical implications for correctional policies in California, and for other states that seek to reduce their prison populations.

Copyright Date

4-26-2016

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Rights Holder

Jeffrey L. Lin

Provenance

Received from author

Language

English (eng)

Extent

28 pgs

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Publication Title

Criminal Justice Policy Review

Volume

29

Issue

8

First Page

771

Last Page

798

ISSN

1552-3586

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