The Sacramento County Jail Master Plan was discussed in a listening session, which revealed that poverty is a major driver of crime and that the County’s current system is not addressing the root causes of crime, such as economic instability, housing insecurity, and lack of healthcare and education.
New York City’s plan to close Rikers Island faces delays and political opposition, while Mayor Mamdani has taken steps to reform the jail system and address the needs of formerly incarcerated individuals, but some activists remain optimistic that the plan can still be completed by 2032.
A new report by the Data Collaborative for Justice at John Jay College warns that Rikers Island has become the largest mental health facility in New York City, with 60% of incarcerated individuals requiring mental health care, and recommends expanding community-based treatment options and increasing mental health courts to reduce the jail population.
By Lovepreet Dhinsa SAN FRANCISCO/ALAMEDA, CA – University of San Francisco law professor, Lara Bazelon, and Alameda…