Is The System Beyond Help?

Barbara Christie has a thoughtful article up at California Progress Report that summarizes the current situation in our state with prison overcrowding (200%) and high recidivism (almost 70%). In addition to summarizing the problem she has some recommendations worth serious consideration.

But, reform will start with concerned citizens, as she states:

We California voters must change our culture if we want an effective criminal justice/corrections system!
1. We can no longer turn a blind eye to politically motivated policy setting, and we can no longer vote based on fear-based rhetoric!
2. We can no longer be fooled into thinking that more prisons will deter crime!
3. We can no longer allow the prison system to be used for profit by business, by labor, and by the very government that claims to support its mission!