Wednesday, November 19, 2014

I frequently receive questions through email from people who want to know more about my perspective on the prison system. Responding to such questions is part of my commitment to bring more awareness to our nation’s prison system. But time is limited for me, so I’m posting responses on blog entries over the next two weeks.

The first question I received asks what I thought the “R” stood for in CDCR. CDCR is the initials for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Previously, the agency was called the California Department of Corrections. A previous governor added the R, theoretically to reflect the agencies commitment to rehabilitation. Yet others held that the “R” may have stood for reorganization, reductions, and realignment. The person wanted to know my thoughts.

To provide more background for readers, let me explain the alternative meanings. A few years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court made some historic rulings that would require the California prison system to reduce its population level. The high Court found that California’s massive prison population resulted in Constitutional violations. That ruling resulted in a complete reorganization of the system, to reductions in the inmate population levels, and to new legislation known as “Realignment,” which influenced the types of crimes that would result in a prison term.

Although legislation resulted in lower population levels in California’s prison system, and there was reorganization of how prisons operate, and Realignment legislation influenced state prisons, I’m sure that the governor intended for the “R” in CDCR to stand for rehabilitation. My short answer to the question, then, is that the R in CDCR stands for rehabilitation.

 

Days since my release from prison: 464

Miles that I ran today: 12.2

Miles that I ran so far this week: 37.55

Miles that I’ve run during the month of November: 127.13

Miles that I ran so far in 2014: 2,177.27

Miles that I need to run in order to reach my annual goal of 2,400 miles: 222.73

Miles I’m ahead of schedule to reach my 2,400-mile goal by the end of 2014: 48.59

My weight for today: 168