California Lawmakers Look To Free Older And Younger Inmates

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California lawmakers want to release more of the state’s oldest prisoners and more of the inmates who were young when they committed their crimes. The two bills sent to Gov. Jerry Brown in the final days of the legislative session are the latest attempt to keep the prison population below the cap set by federal judges. One applies to inmates 60 and older and the other to those who were under 25 when they committed crimes. Supporters emphasize they do not guarantee parole. But they say it makes sense to target the young and old as lawmakers try to unwind decades of get-tough policies that led to overcrowding. Many older inmates have health issues that make them extremely costly to house. Law enforcement officials say the bills put more dangerous people on the streets.

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