California’s budget crisis and overcrowded prisons have led to a new reality for thousands of convicted felons: Parole is getting a lot easier — no more random drug tests, travel rules or requirements to check in with an officer. Restrictions have been relaxed for nonviolent criminals like burglars, drug offenders and swindlers under a new law that aims to shrink the prison population by reducing the number of minor parole violations that send ex-cons back to prison.
Scott H. Silverman told the LA Times this week that the changes simply pass responsibility to the local level and warns that parolees could be emboldened by the lack of restrictions and he criticized the state for it’s lack of a support network.
Read the full LA Times story here:
