California: Vote on Prison Plan

After a highly charged debate, the Senate approved a plan to trim California’s prison population by 27,000 inmates, acting over the objections of Republican lawmakers and law enforcement groups. The proposal would let thousands of inmates be released early from state prison or avoid prison time altogether. It is intended to cut $1.2 billion from corrections spending as part of a state deficit-cutting deal struck last month. The measure passed the Senate on a 21-to-19 vote. Passage was less certain in the Assembly.