California prisons are overcrowded. The State has the choice between building new prisons and relaxing parole standards (so that prisoners are released on parole earlier). Due to the budget crisis, it has chosen to relax parole standards.

a)In light of the studies discussed in O'Sullivan, what will be the effects of the policy on current and future crime rates, on the social costs of crime, and on the utility of legal citizens and criminals?

b)Do you favor the policy?

c)In his State of the State address, Governor Schwarzenegger resolved to spend no more on prisons than on higher education. Will the early release policy increase or decrease the costs of the criminal justice system?