Federal judges have given California six more months to reduce inmate crowding to court-ordered levels, even as Gov. Jerry Brown argues that the courts should end their oversight of the state's prison system.
California was supposed to reduce the population in its 33 adult prisons to about 110,000 inmates by June. But Brown says he can't comply without releasing dangerous criminals, in violation of state law.
Instead, he is asking a three-judge panel to lift the inmate population cap. He says California can provide proper medical and mental health care even with nearly 10,000 more inmates than allowed by the court.
In an order Tuesday, the judges said California is obligated to keep trying to meet the cap as the legal fight continues but extended the deadline to Dec. 30.
