HIST 12B Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Neoliberalism, Right On Crime, 9Th Ward Of New Orleans
Document Summary
Producing prisoners (california literally gave up the idea that prisons were meant to rehabilitate. The key issue here was to lengthen the sentence. It wasn"t just about finding people to put into prison, but to keep them in there as long as possible. This was a response to the prisoner"s rights movement. ) Legislature passed the 1977 uniform determinate sentencing act (usda) (this was a way to say you"re here to be punished. Stop defying the system by trying to get out. ) (the prison numbers actually fell from "74 to "77. Prisoners sought to remedy the laws, and courts ruled in their favor. They partially ruled in their favor because of overcrowding. It made it harder for prisoners to get their case to court, and to get released. ) Political use of crime in state politics lengthened sentences and increased the likelihood that felons would go to state prison.
