Realignment

Overview

Realignment

Public Safety Realignment (AB 109-2011) Information

 

Understanding AB 109: A Comprehensive Review of Public Safety Realignment

This document provides a high-level, comprehensive overview of California’s Public Safety Realignment under Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109), explaining the historical context, policy decisions, and system changes that shifted responsibility for certain populations from the state to local jurisdictions. It is intended as an informational resource for policymakers and stakeholders, outlining the rationale, implementation, funding structure, and ongoing impacts of public safety realignment, while highlighting the critical role of counties, and particularly of probation, in managing public safety through a balance of accountability, supervision, and services. 

 

AB 109 History

Chief Probation Officers of California Support the Governor’s Initiative to Protect Public Safety On January 6, 2012, the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) announced their support for Governor Brown’s initiative to constitutionally protect vital local government funding and provide a balanced approach to solving our ongoing budget instability. After the release of the budget yesterday, it is clear the Governor’s initiative is needed to put California back on track. CPOC felt it was imperative to support the Governor’s approach which offers the most balanced path to protecting local public safety.

This statewide constitutional amendment, aimed for the November 2012 ballot, would protect funding that is currently dedicated to local public safety services that were shifted to counties and local governments as part of the 2011 realignment legislation. The measure would prohibit the State from raiding or redirecting these funds in the future, and prohibit the legislature from shifting more responsibility to local governments unless the state provide funding to pay for the services.

“Governor Brown has been committed to working with CPOC and other local government stakeholders to ensure that local governments have the resources needed to properly track and monitor the offenders that are now the responsibility of the counties,” said Steve Bordin, Chief Probation Officer of Colusa County and President of CPOC. “In order to adequately provide these vital services, it is integral that probation has secure, guaranteed revenues that the State cannot raid, shift or borrow. The Chief Probation Officers of California support the Governor’s initiative to protect funding for vital public safety services for our communities.”

Probation plays an integral part in the local supervision, treatment and rehabilitation of offenders. By addressing criminal behavior at the front-end of the system through community-based programming and evidence-based supervision practices, public safety outcomes can be improved while also lowering offender recidivism. If adequately funded and appropriately resourced, probation can provide vital public safety services, achieve better outcomes, and make our communities safer.

 

Understanding AB 109: A Comprehensive Review of Public Safety Realignment

CPOC Information

March 20, 2013 Realignment Briefing Material

Fiscal Information

CSAC Information

County Plans

Impact Report by Counties

Other Resources