Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Supreme Court ordered the release of thousands of prisoners in California

California must release thousands of prisoners is the respondent's order to the State Supreme Court of the United States on Monday in the objective to alleviate the chronic overcrowding in its prisons. The Court cites "serious violations of the Constitution," reports the Miami Herald. "For years the medical and psychological care in California prisons have not met the constitutional requirements and did not meet the basic needs of prisoners for health," said Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kenney according leMiami Herald.

In a close decision to five votes against four, the highest U.S. court found that two prisoners who had complained had been right to enter a special tribunal of three judges to request that the overcrowding problem was solved. These three federal judges had ordered in August 2009 the release of 40,000 prisoners in two years.

In November 2010, the 33 prisons in California confinement 147,000 inmates, says the Miami Herald. "This is a classic struggle between federal authority and that of the state, which must determine whether U.S. courts can intervene in the affairs of prisons, mostly administered by the States," says CNN.

The debate was lively, to decide between the safety of society and individual rights, says the U.S. chain. "The choice of means to reduce prison overcrowding is at the discretion of the state," said the Court in its decision. "But if it does not comply [with the decision of three judges], by building new prisons or by transferring its prisoners in other states, (...) it will comply with the decision and release a number of prisoners before they have finished serving their sentences, "she says.

California authorities have requested more time to act, says the Miami Herald.

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