Stop Prison Expansion

Re “Agencies Told to Prepare for 15% Cut,” Oct. 12: It was not surprising to see the California Department of Corrections state that it may close part, or all, of an entire prison. By its own numbers, it is at least 5,000 prisoners below capacity, and its most recent prisoner population projections forecast 18,000 fewer prisoners than its projections issued only six months earlier.

What is surprising--and alarming--is that despite the raw data, officials appear unable to part with the planned 5,200-bed prison slated for Delano. It will be fascinating to see how they justify building this $335-million, unneeded prison while they close the doors elsewhere.

Rose Braz

Director, Critical Resistance

Oakland