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Policy/Law

California voters favor reducing sentences for nonviolent offenders, poll finds

A large majority of Californians favor cutting down sentences for low-level offenders, according to results of the latest poll. (Photo/Krystian Olszanski, Flickr)

California voters favor reducing sentences for people who commit low-level crimes in order to reduce the state’s prison population, but they oppose releasing prisoners if it will harm public safety, according to the latest USC Dornsife/LA Times Poll.

Policy/Law

Aging behind bars

The "Golden Girls" are female inmates ages 55 and over who are serving time at the California Institution for Women. USC student Aileen Hongo is working hard to advocate for these geriatric prisoners. (Photo/Ron Levine)

Aileen Hongo calls them ladies. This small act of politeness may seem like nothing to most people. But as she sits in a folding chair next to these women, Hongo recognizes that for many of them, even the most basic courtesies may be all that they will ever know.