Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber), today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decision that could result in a mass release of more than 40,000 convicted criminals from California state prisons.

"The court's decision is an egregious travesty of justice," said Nielsen. "I agree with Justice Scalia who called the decision 'perhaps the most radical injunction issued by a court in our nation's history' This decision will result in hundreds of thousands of crimes being committed against our citizens as criminals are released who will then face lesser to no consequences for their continued criminality."

Nielsen shared that for years he has proposed laws, regulations and policies that would have helped avoid this looming disaster, including ways to improve inmate healthcare and reduce the costs of inmate lawsuits against the state, and better strategies for rehabilitation. 

"California citizens must now be more concerned with the safety of their families," concluded Nielsen. "Their government and courts are offering less concern."

Assemblyman Nielsen served as Chairman of the Board of Prison Terms from 1991 until 2000. Here he established a strong record on public safety issues, as well as a unique understanding of the inner workings of California's prison and adult corrections system.