Many of the newer correctional facilities are now 15 to 20 years old. Given the age and complexity of the institutions and their support systems, excessive wear and tear caused by crowding, rapidly changing technology, modifications and upgrades required for adult inmate and youth ward population needs, modern building codes, health and safety standards, and court mandates, there is an expected need for a large and aggressive capital outlay program to support the public safety mission.

California “Three Strikes” Law

In 1994 California voters approved a major change in the state's criminal sentencing law commonly known as the Three Strikes and You're Out law. As the name suggests, the law requires a minimum sentence of 25 years to life for three-time repeat offenders if the previous crimes were serious or violent offenses. The law also lengthened the prison term for many second-time offenders. Approximately 25% of current state prison inmates have longer sentences under the Three Strikes law.