California Guts Funding for Prison Treatment

The California Department of Corrections is cutting $250 million in funding for prison-based rehabilitation programs, including those that provide addiction-treatment and academic services, the Associated Press reported Sept. 18.

The cuts, which will directly impact contractors who provide addiction-related services inside state prisons as well as inmates, stem from the state budget which passed in July. The plan signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger included a $1.2-billion decrease in funding for the prison system.

The state Department of Personnel Administration must approve the cuts, which also would result in the loss of 600-800 state jobs.