408Factor, You most obviously haven't came to one of the weekly townhall meetings which address ALL those things you mentioned. Those questions you've posed are OLD NEWS and have BEEN answered. Those canned questions are so two years ago!
I'm shock to even see there were people who even still held on to such dated views. No one is advocating crime. Crime is crime. However, groups like the Prison Guard Union can't continue to lobby lawmakers and say $50,000 per inmate is reasonable...and your or my cousin is in there for something small. Hell no! You sure don't speak for the majority of Black and Brown....or poor Whites!
Our hearts got out to the fallen officers, however, why was there no words from the governor or attorney general when Oscar Grant was slain ( on video, mend you)?
There should have been words for both the officers who lost there lives AND Oscar Grant! And the issue of Blacks being outraged for black on black crimes was most certainly stressed. So, what's your excuse? Many of us really want a crutch to lean on to justify doing nothing. Hella no!!!! These katz aren't going to pimp my people....are you crazy!!!?
The bottom line is: They know you're worth more in prison at $50,000 a year to the state than working at some job making $14/hour or doing nothing. You're worth more to the California economy in jail then you are working as a decent man.