Under the Public Safety Realignment Act (enacted in California through AB 109, AB 117 and related 2011 legislation), major changes took place in state and local government responsibilities for public safety and community corrections. Known as “realignment,” counties now play an expanded role in treatment, post-release supervision, and detention of some adults who were previously the responsibility of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

These changes went into effect in October 2011, under realignment non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious offenders are sentenced to county jails, not state prisons. In addition, about 30,000 now are being supervised in the community by county probation rather than state parole. Depending upon the county and offender, these individuals may be eligible for re-entry services offered by counties.

See column at right for more information about realignment.