California sends more violent criminals, fewer drug criminals, to prison

By Phillip Reese
preese@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, Jul. 6, 2011 - 9:56 am

The last decade saw a large shift in California's prison population. The number of inmates incarcerated primarily for committing a violent crime increased by about 27 percent -- a fact that some researchers say helps explain a corresponding drop in the state's violent crime rate.

Meanwhile, the number of inmates incarcerated primarily for a drug offense fell about 35 percent, largely because of Proposition 36, which passed in 2000 and mandates treatment programs for certain crimes instead of prison.

Violent criminals now comprise 58 percent of the state's prison population, up from 48 percent a decade ago.

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