Thursday, March 11, 2010
Unused vacation time could wash out state furlough savings
By Jon Ortiz and Phillip Reese
Sacbee
State workers last year used nearly a third less of their paid vacation time than in 2008, a tangible sign that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furloughs will carry a deferred cost to the state for many years to come.
Sacbee
State workers last year used nearly a third less of their paid vacation time than in 2008, a tangible sign that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furloughs will carry a deferred cost to the state for many years to come.
It's impossible to know that eventual cost, since individual employees handle their accrued vacation differently. But it's clear that furloughs have pushed many state workers to sock away time, producing a larger state liability at a higher eventual price.
The number of vacation hours used by state employees fell 31 percent from 2008 to 2009, according to a Bee analysis of state controller data. Government workers used 58 percent of the vacation time they accrued during 2009, down from 86 percent a year earlier...
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State corrections officials defend new law, say violent criminals will get heavier monitoring
By Andrew Blankstein From LA Times
State corrections officials questioned Thursday claims by the L.A. police union that the recent arrest of a man with a long criminal history showed shortcomings in a new law designed to ease prison overcrowding.
Ezra Hooker Sr., who was arrested Jan. 5 after allegedly pointing a rifle at a prostitute and leading LAPD officers on a high-speed chase in South L.A., was being monitored at the highest level of parole supervision before the incident, said Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Hidalgo also took issue with the assertion that Hooker, who had 19 previous arrests and four convictions, would have been subject to less scrutiny under the new law. He said Hooker served time in state prison in 1988 for voluntary manslaughter, making him ineligible for "non-revocable parole" that eliminates contact with a parole agent if the parolee has committed only nonviolent offenses.
"The purpose of the law is to allow agents to focus their attention on the most violent individuals and those who pose the most risk to re-offend," Hidalgo said. "So a person like this [Hooker] would have received more intensive supervision rather than less as suggested by the Los Angeles Police Protective League."...
To view the full article click on title.
State corrections officials questioned Thursday claims by the L.A. police union that the recent arrest of a man with a long criminal history showed shortcomings in a new law designed to ease prison overcrowding.
Ezra Hooker Sr., who was arrested Jan. 5 after allegedly pointing a rifle at a prostitute and leading LAPD officers on a high-speed chase in South L.A., was being monitored at the highest level of parole supervision before the incident, said Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Hidalgo also took issue with the assertion that Hooker, who had 19 previous arrests and four convictions, would have been subject to less scrutiny under the new law. He said Hooker served time in state prison in 1988 for voluntary manslaughter, making him ineligible for "non-revocable parole" that eliminates contact with a parole agent if the parolee has committed only nonviolent offenses.
"The purpose of the law is to allow agents to focus their attention on the most violent individuals and those who pose the most risk to re-offend," Hidalgo said. "So a person like this [Hooker] would have received more intensive supervision rather than less as suggested by the Los Angeles Police Protective League."...
To view the full article click on title.
D.C. inmate escapes from Southeast Hospital
WASHINGTON -- Authorities are searching for a D.C. inmate who escaped while being taken to Greater Southeast Hospital.
Correctional officers were transporting 28-year-old Terrance Moore of D.C. to the hospital for a scheduled doctor's visit.
When they arrived at the hospital around 8:50 a.m. Thursday, Moore ran off.
D.C. Police say Moore was able to free himself from his restraints while he was being transported...
To view the full article click on title.
ACLU suing Corrections Corp. of America
By Rebecca Boone
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho — The American Civil Liberties Union is suing state prison officials and a private company, claiming violence is so rampant at the Idaho Correctional Center that it's known as "gladiator school" among inmates.
The ACLU said it would file the lawsuit Thursday against Nashville, Tenn.-based Corrections Corp. of America in U.S. District Court in Boise.
The lawsuit says Idaho's only private prison is extraordinarily violent, with guards deliberately exposing inmates to brutal beatings from other prisoners as a management tool.
The group contends the prison then denies injured inmates medical care to save money and hide the extent of injuries...
To view the full article click on title.
Associated Press
BOISE, Idaho — The American Civil Liberties Union is suing state prison officials and a private company, claiming violence is so rampant at the Idaho Correctional Center that it's known as "gladiator school" among inmates.
The ACLU said it would file the lawsuit Thursday against Nashville, Tenn.-based Corrections Corp. of America in U.S. District Court in Boise.
The lawsuit says Idaho's only private prison is extraordinarily violent, with guards deliberately exposing inmates to brutal beatings from other prisoners as a management tool.
The group contends the prison then denies injured inmates medical care to save money and hide the extent of injuries...
To view the full article click on title.
California state worker unions line up behind Jerry Brown
A quick tally of donations to the Democrat's campaign shows that four state labor groups have given about $50,000 so far combined, even though he's had no real opposition in the run-up to the June primary.
You can understand the unions' support. As the state's executive from 1975 to 1983, Brown signed the legislation that unionized the California's government work force.
He's also not former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, the GOP front-runner for governor, or her intraparty rival Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Both regularly blast public employee unions, state government bloat and state worker retirement benefits they say are too generous...
To view the full article click on title.
California agencies' pay cuts hit departments unevenly
The state paid civil service and California State University workers about 4 percent less in 2008 than in 2009, but the cuts were applied unevenly and about one-quarter of state workers' pay actually increased, according to a Bee analysis of new data from the state controller's office.
Largely due to furloughs, pay cuts last year of almost $800 million nearly equaled the $900 million increase in state worker pay from 2007 to 2008. Employees at some departments – Developmental Services, the Department of Rehabilitation, and Health Services, to name a few – were hit with a double-whammy: less staff, less pay.
But there were winners, too. Most California Highway Patrol employees, along with those toiling for several constitutional officers, saw their overall pay increase. Those workers either weren't subject to furloughs, fell outside the governor's control, or both. The remaining employees who earned more last year worked more overtime; were promoted; or cashed out unused vacation and sick pay when they retired.
Read the full article
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Parolee arrested after alleged crime spree
From ABC 7
REDLANDS, Calif. (KABC) -- A fugitive parolee was arrested in Yucaipa Tuesday in connection with a two week long crime spree that included a string of robberies and an attempted carjacking.
Redlands police said James Jesse Sult, 25, was taken into custody at a home in the 12000 block of 18th Street about 3 p.m. Tuesday. They report Sult was found with a loaded gun, heroin, methamphetamine and keys to a nearby stolen vehicle in his possession.
Officers were originally looking for Sult in connection with a March 6 home invasion robbery in Redlands. They say he has also been linked to a home invasion robbery in the 500 block of Lantern Crest on February 21, an attempted carjacking at Lugonia Avenue and Wabash Avenue March 2, two armed robberies of a Circle K and Valero gas station in Mentone, and a vehicle pursuit with Sheriff's deputies in a stolen car...
To view the full article click on title.
REDLANDS, Calif. (KABC) -- A fugitive parolee was arrested in Yucaipa Tuesday in connection with a two week long crime spree that included a string of robberies and an attempted carjacking.
Redlands police said James Jesse Sult, 25, was taken into custody at a home in the 12000 block of 18th Street about 3 p.m. Tuesday. They report Sult was found with a loaded gun, heroin, methamphetamine and keys to a nearby stolen vehicle in his possession.
Officers were originally looking for Sult in connection with a March 6 home invasion robbery in Redlands. They say he has also been linked to a home invasion robbery in the 500 block of Lantern Crest on February 21, an attempted carjacking at Lugonia Avenue and Wabash Avenue March 2, two armed robberies of a Circle K and Valero gas station in Mentone, and a vehicle pursuit with Sheriff's deputies in a stolen car...
To view the full article click on title.
State high court to consider body-armor law
By Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court said Wednesday it will hear a prosecution appeal of a ruling throwing out a state law that bans anyone who has been convicted of a violent felony from owning body armor.
The unanimous order was a victory for Attorney General Jerry Brown, who had asked the court to take up the case, and for San Francisco Police Chief George Gascón, who had urged Brown to appeal.
The law, passed in 1998, was intended to protect police against flak-jacketed criminals such as Lee Boutwell, who fatally shot San Francisco Officer James Guelff in November 1994 and wounded another officer before being killed in a shootout. Congress passed a similar federal law in 2002...
To view the full article click on title.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court said Wednesday it will hear a prosecution appeal of a ruling throwing out a state law that bans anyone who has been convicted of a violent felony from owning body armor.
The unanimous order was a victory for Attorney General Jerry Brown, who had asked the court to take up the case, and for San Francisco Police Chief George Gascón, who had urged Brown to appeal.
The law, passed in 1998, was intended to protect police against flak-jacketed criminals such as Lee Boutwell, who fatally shot San Francisco Officer James Guelff in November 1994 and wounded another officer before being killed in a shootout. Congress passed a similar federal law in 2002...
To view the full article click on title.
Marissa’s Closet
Our charity was founded by Marissa whose humanitarian efforts began about a year ago as a leadership student at Ripon High School. As Treasurer of the Girls League, Marissa approached her fellow officers with a community service project. It was her vision to help women and young girls get the formal gown and dresses they need to celebrate the special moments in their lives. After her untimely death, I, with the rest of her family, decided to keep the charity alive in her honor.
Marissa’s Closet is a year round charity collecting all types, styles, and sizes of new or used formal dresses. Donations of accessories such as shoes, handbags, and jewelry are also welcome. The charity would also appreciate donated hangers and clothes racks for the storage of donated items until they are distributed.
This charity was created by the step-daughter of an Officer who works at DVI. If you would like to find out more info click on the title to be linked to their website.
Dentist who killed 3 recommeded for parole
By LARRY WELBORN
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SANTA ANA – A state appeals court has recommeded parole for a former Orange County dentist who was convicted of killing three patients with drug overdoses.
A ruling Tuesday by the 4th District Court of Appeal says 63-year-old Tony Protopappas must be released from prison unless there's new evidence that he's a danger to society.
Protopappas has served more than 25 years of a potential life sentence for second-degree murder. Patricia Craven, 13; Kim Andreassen, 23; and Cathryn Jones, 31, died after he gave them too much anesthesia at his Costa Mesa office in the early 1980s...
To view the full article click on title.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
SANTA ANA – A state appeals court has recommeded parole for a former Orange County dentist who was convicted of killing three patients with drug overdoses.
A ruling Tuesday by the 4th District Court of Appeal says 63-year-old Tony Protopappas must be released from prison unless there's new evidence that he's a danger to society.
Protopappas has served more than 25 years of a potential life sentence for second-degree murder. Patricia Craven, 13; Kim Andreassen, 23; and Cathryn Jones, 31, died after he gave them too much anesthesia at his Costa Mesa office in the early 1980s...
To view the full article click on title.
Jail locks out health workers who held one-day strike
From Oakland Tribune
OAKLAND — Health care workers at both jails in Alameda County were not allowed to return to work today after they took to the picket lines Tuesday to protest six months of stalled contract negotiations and what they call unfair labor practices.
Workers at the Dublin jail this morning told news outlets they were turned away by their supervisors.
The workers, members of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, approved the one-day strike last month after working more than two months without a contract and making minimal headway on a new one with Tennessee-based Prison Health Services. That company has a contract with Alameda County to provide health care staff, such as nurses and medical record technicians, to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and the North County Jail in Oakland...
To view the full article click on title.
OAKLAND — Health care workers at both jails in Alameda County were not allowed to return to work today after they took to the picket lines Tuesday to protest six months of stalled contract negotiations and what they call unfair labor practices.
Workers at the Dublin jail this morning told news outlets they were turned away by their supervisors.
The workers, members of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, approved the one-day strike last month after working more than two months without a contract and making minimal headway on a new one with Tennessee-based Prison Health Services. That company has a contract with Alameda County to provide health care staff, such as nurses and medical record technicians, to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and the North County Jail in Oakland...
To view the full article click on title.
Governor tells state officials to stop shredding sex offender files
By Sam Stanton From Sacbee
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered state corrections officials Tuesday to stop destroying sex offenders' parole files and to make as much of their contents public as possible.
The move follows the arrest of a paroled sex offender accused of killing a 17-year-old girl near San Diego last month and under investigation in the death of a 14-year-old who disappeared in the same area more than a year ago.
It also follows The Bee's successful lawsuit last month to force corrections officials to turn over the parole records of kidnap and rape suspect Phillip Garrido...
To view the full article click on title.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered state corrections officials Tuesday to stop destroying sex offenders' parole files and to make as much of their contents public as possible.
The move follows the arrest of a paroled sex offender accused of killing a 17-year-old girl near San Diego last month and under investigation in the death of a 14-year-old who disappeared in the same area more than a year ago.
It also follows The Bee's successful lawsuit last month to force corrections officials to turn over the parole records of kidnap and rape suspect Phillip Garrido...
To view the full article click on title.
State worker pay database updated with 2009 numbers
By Jon Ortiz From Sacbee
The Bee's state employee pay database has been updated with figures for the 2009 calendar year. Our resident database maestro Phillip Reese, set up the site to include several new features:
•2009 data for all civil service workers.
•Past and present wages -- to view the effects of furloughs, for instance -- all at once.
•New summary tables showing highest-paid civil service workers, CSU workers, UC workers and legislative staffers.
•New details page that breaks down each person's salary -- overtime, other pay, regular pay -- for the past three years.
•Updated notes section explaining the fine print behind the numbers.
Click here to check out the updated database.
The Bee's state employee pay database has been updated with figures for the 2009 calendar year. Our resident database maestro Phillip Reese, set up the site to include several new features:
•2009 data for all civil service workers.
•Past and present wages -- to view the effects of furloughs, for instance -- all at once.
•New summary tables showing highest-paid civil service workers, CSU workers, UC workers and legislative staffers.
•New details page that breaks down each person's salary -- overtime, other pay, regular pay -- for the past three years.
•Updated notes section explaining the fine print behind the numbers.
Click here to check out the updated database.
Woman charged with murder after dead baby found at prison
Courier-Journal
20-year-old Corbin woman has been charged with murder after she gave birth to a baby girl in a visitors' restroom at a state prison in La Grange on Sunday and hid the baby in a trash bin, police said. The baby was found dead hours later.
Kentucky State Police arrested Ashley Nicole Cox on Monday and charged her with first-degree murder and concealing the birth of an infant. Cox was being held at the Oldham County Jail.
Preliminary autopsy results show her baby was alive and healthy when she was born at the Roederer Correctional Complex, police said. The cause of death has not been determined...
To view the full article click on title.
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