The Press Democrat
AB 109 prison realignment was passed in 2011 and shifted responsibility for low-level offenders from the state of California to its counties. AB 109 is an effort to reduce the state’s ballooning prison population, as well as to address the underlying causes of crime. In response, some counties have built new jails to handle the influx of prisoners, while others have explored ways to rehabilitate offenders to keep them from returning to jail. In Sonoma County, officials have invested in treatment programs that supervise offenders in the community while helping them build new lives. These programs include electronic monitoring and a day reporting center where offenders participate in substance abuse treatment, behavioral therapy, job preparation and other classes. >>Read More