A New State Law Could Turn Abandoned Schools into Jails

11/26/2007 (KFSN) -- A proposed new state law aims to crack down on crime by increasing punishments for violent criminals and taking away some of the rights they have right now.

Under the new initiative, abandoned schools could be turned into facilities to house inmates. The money to fund the new proposal could come from your taxes in the state's education budget.

"This is a call to action, a call to action from our public."

Sheriff Margaret Mims asked listeners during Fresno's "Radio Detective" show to support her new anti-gang initiative called the "Safe Neighborhoods Act."

"It's unbelievable what goes on in this society and it's time to step on it," said Jerry Pearce, Radio Detective.

Mims says it's time to do something about jail overcrowding. It's time stop repeat offenders and secure permanent funding for public safety.

"Our funding is always at jeopardy. This would stabilize that funding so we don't have to fight for it year after year," said Sheriff Margaret Mims.

Political analyst Don Larson says funding for the Sheriff's proposal could make California's $7 billion deficit worse.

"We will have to take the money from some other areas and one of the largest areas that would be hit probably would be education," said Don Larson.

If the new proposal becomes law, some hearsay testimony would be allowed into trials and parolees could be denied rights to due process.

Larson says these two points are unconstitutional.

"We can't pass legislation that requires things the federal government doesn't require unless we have permission to do that," said Don Larson.

Meanwhile, because of inmate overcrowding Mims wants to secure money from the state to convert old facilities in to new jails.

"Anything that meets the residential health and safety standards... so really we can use our imaginations on what they may be," said Sheriff Mims.

Mims says that could mean redesigning the old U.M.C. building or abandoned schools into inmate housing.

Larson says putting prisoners in those schools would be too close to children and cause security concerns in neighborhoods.

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