Legislature Has Governor’s $50-Million Prison Plan : Governor Asks $50 Million to Add 5,050 Prison Beds

Gov. George Deukmejian today submitted a 10-page message to the Legislature outlining a comprehensive $50-million plan to add 5,050 emergency beds to the state’s burgeoning prison system.

“It is a dilemma born not of failure but of success--striking success,” the governor said of the crowding at California’s 12 prisons, presently at 62% above capacity.

His proposal would temporarily augment the state’s $1.2-billion prison construction program that will add 19,400 beds by 1989. The additional 5,050 beds would be in place by the end of 1986 if the Legislature concurs.

Among the more controversial proposals were recommendations to waive environmental impact assessments and house prisoners for 18 months in three camps now run by the California Conservation Corps.

Prison Bond on ’86 Ballot

The governor also proposed a $500-million prison construction bond for the November, 1986, ballot and said he will offer additional bond proposals for county jails and other facilities.

He also suggested:

--Adding 500 beds each to Department of Correction facilities at Tehachapi, Sierra and Susanville. Those units would be capable of double cells.

--Waiving environmental impact report requirements for those units and planned prisons at Avenal and Ione, and partially waiving requirements for construction at Corcoran, Riverside, Soledad, Los Angeles and any future prisons.

--Converting gymnasiums, classrooms and other areas in existing prisons to accommodate another 2,900 beds.

Deukmejian said that modifications are already under way at existing prisons to create another 2,700 beds and that the $50 million for the proposed expansion program would come from the state’s emergency reserve of more than $1 billion.

The state prison population is 47,800 and has been increasing at an average of 170 inmates a week. The prisons were built to hold 33,300 inmates.