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Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offender Plan

By Jeralyn, Section Juvenile Offenders
Posted on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 05:19:53 AM EST
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California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger takes a step in the right direction and implements a plan for a softer approach for juvenile offenders:

Marking a sharp turn in philosophy, the Schwarzenegger administration agreed Monday to put therapy and positive reinforcement at the heart of California's youth prison system, rejecting today's more punitive approaches in favor of models that have been successful in other states.

Leaders of the California Youth Authority called the action historic, and said that while the reforms would cost an undetermined amount of money up front, they would save dollars in the long run by helping more young lawbreakers go straight.

Gov. Arnold is getting praise from both sides on this one:

"This is a commitment to a completely different way of doing business," said attorney Sue Burrell of the Youth Law Center, which works to improve conditions for young offenders. "This administration deserves a lot of credit for acknowledging that the CYA is a failure and jumping in with both feet to create something better."

It's ironic that as the Governor moves towards enlightenment, the California Supreme Court takes a step backward with respect to adult offenders.

Thousands of California inmates have a little less to live for this week thanks to a California Supreme Court decision that helps cement the state's shift in penal philosophy from rehabilitation to rank retribution.

The court's decision in the case of John Dannenberg, handed down last week, allows the state parole board to deny parole to inmates solely on the nature of their original offense. Even if an inmate has an unblemished record in prison, and even if an inmate is deemed not to be dangerous by mental health and prison officials, the court ruled, the parole board may determine that the original crime was so heinous that the prisoner should be denied release.

We wrote about the decision here .

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    Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offender Plan | 10 comments (10 topical)
    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#1)
    by glanton on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 06:19:11 AM EST
    Now if he'd learn to read he'd be perfect.

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 06:33:16 AM EST
    Ahnold is a maverick and is capable of making the correct moves at times. I know that lots of us really dislike him and his means of ascension to CA Gov, but if and when he gets it right, I say good job, Ahnold.

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 08:19:52 AM EST
    He does seem to be a "less scary" Republican. Maybe Maria Shriver is the woman behind the curtain?

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#4)
    by Adept Havelock on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 08:41:32 AM EST
    Shame for the GOP his views on abortion make him unelectable nationally, even if they do manage to pass the ah-nold amendment. On this issue, good call by Herr Grope-n-fuhrer.

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 08:46:14 AM EST
    I agree with kdog and hope that Sarge Shriver's been working on the boy. And thank goodness for all those juveniles - a small amount of who may be able to turn themselves around.

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#6)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 09:26:40 AM EST
    This fits with his past acts. When he was at the peak of his celebrity earning power, he put out some exercise books. He could have made a fortune selling to the adult market, but he put his strongest effort into a book on fitness for kids. He did a very successful book tour that included leading exercises for big groups of kids--the general public, not a select few. OK, this is thin evidence, but it fits a pattern that points to a genuine concern for the young.

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 10:08:25 AM EST
    California used to be the leader in the nation in Child Corrections, now we are a laughing stock. The ranches have the offenders that used to go to the CYA, serious but not violent, but the numbers are drownding the system. The counselor I talked to said they are just too overburdened to work on rehabilitation and the recidivism rates show it. I understand Utah has a model program anyone know of it?

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 01, 2005 at 01:23:43 PM EST
    Good.

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 02, 2005 at 06:12:21 AM EST
    I still fear that this guy could end up president and there's something alarming about a heavy german accent in the WH. No offense to germans, I grew up New Braunfels TX when they still spoke German on the street and I can speak a bit myself, but Kissinger and Ahnold with their persistent german accents make me uneasy. It's too bad, but Hitler, Goering, Hoess and their ilk have made the germans look a little immoderate. I hope that 50 years from now, people that speak like stupid cowboys don't create the same discomfort.

    Re: Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offe (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 02, 2005 at 05:58:45 PM EST
    NOT LEGALLY ELECTED. That's a crime. He's a criminal. If he does some good for others, then that's something to balance the account he will have to face, but it doesn't cover his crimes HERE. Unelected, put in power by coup. Gee...who does that sound like? Not to mention: illegal immigrant. Worked on a tourist visa, paid no taxes, and abused women for decades. He's got a lot of work to do to save his soul, but his attacks on the poor are more fire, less ice. He was himself that felon who should have been deported.

    Gov. Arnold Follows Through With Juvenile Offender Plan | 10 comments (10 topical)