Page 44 - State Prisons News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Unlike most jails where the majority of inmates are only accused of crimes and awaiting trial, about 65% of the inmates are convicted and serving sentences. that's due, in part, to a 2011 law known as ab-109. it was created to help relieve the california's state prison systems once dangerously over-crowded conditions. now, thousands of inmates who normally would have gone to prison are diverted to county jails. the law has drastically changed the make-up of the inmate population with more convicts serving hard time as opposed to shorter term, not-convicted inmates still awaiting trial. >> it h...

-- from overcrowded state prisons. ♪ money make the world go round ♪ ♪ my ego got the girl going down ♪ >> all these inmates will someday be released to the streets of sacramento. so the new law brings significant funding for job training and re-entry programs in hopes of providing them the help they need to not return. >> when i was locked up, i had no motivation. now i see inmates with motivation, that something it out there to help them and do something different. >> ten years ago, ron sees the problem he hopes to fix. he was a revolving door inmate here. >> ron smith, over in re-en...

Serious or violent felony, the third strike, locked up 25 to life. increased the population of state prisons to be sure but filling the state prisons with folks that had a demonstrated track record of victimizing others. >> it would appear that this get tough on crime initiative was voted in because of offenders like gregory gavin. >> a lot of this charges, theft and violence. seems to be his claim to fame. >> his first two were for burglary and robbery. though he's racked up others over the past ten years as well. >> i didn't have no job, nobody looking out for me. i was doing what i felt ...

The mission turned fort still stands at the heart of downtown as a symbol of honor and bravery. today, however, a very different war rages in san antonio, as two rival gangs shed blood in a power struggle to control a wide range of criminal activity, including drugs, prostitution, and human trafficking. and this turf war has expanded from the streets to inside the walls of san antonio's bear county jail. >> traditionally the mexican mafia, an outgrowth of a prison gang, had been a controlling gang here in san antonio, but here lately because members of the mexican mafia are getting older and s...

-- from overcrowded state prisons. ♪ money make the world go round ♪ ♪ my ego got the girl going down ♪ >> all these inmates will someday be released to the streets of sacramento. so the new law brings significant funding for job training and re-entry programs in hopes of providing them the help they need to not return. >> when i was locked up, i had no motivation. now i see inmates with motivation, that something it out there to help them and do something different. >> ten years ago, ron sees the problem he hopes to fix. he was a revolving door inmate here. >> ron smith, over in re-en...