Closing a State Prison ‘Reckless’ Idea, Head of California Police Chiefs Group Says

Closing a State Prison ‘Reckless’ Idea, Head of California Police Chiefs Group Says
An armed California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officer stands guard at San Quentin State Prison on Aug. 15, 2016. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s dream of closing a state prison could quickly turn into a nightmare, one of the state’s top police chiefs said.

“The notion of closing a prison at this point in the history of our criminal justice system in California, frankly, is a reckless idea,” said Ron Lawrence, president of the California Police Chiefs Association. Closing a prison could lead to more prison overcrowding and homelessness, he said, and put greater strain on county jails and police.

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