Name: As California’s Inmate Population Drops, the Question Arises: Are the Prisons Needed?
Uploaded: 2026-03-13T17:01:46.000Z
Description: California is closing its fifth state prison. Officials point to lower inmate numbers, but the reasons behind the decline are contested, with effects already visible in local jails and courtrooms.

Siyamak Khorrami has been the general manager and chief editor of the Southern California edition of The Epoch Times since 2017. He is also the host of the “California Insider” show, which showcases leaders and professionals across the state with inside information about trending topics and critical issues in California.

Siyamak Khorrami

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California, as the wealthiest and most populated state in the nation, carries many leading roles in policy making, economic growth, cultural influences and technology development. California Insider, hosted by Siyamak Khorrami with The Epoch Times Southern California, showcases leaders and professionals across the state with inside information about trending topics and critical issues. Our mission is to inform California residents through the experiences and knowledge of our guests. 

California Insider

Why the CCP Is Targeting an American Performing Arts Company | Steve Lance

Why California Election Results Keep Shifting After Election Night | Mike Gatto

California’s Fastest-Growing Homeless Population Is Its Seniors; What’s Really Happening? | Rishi Kumar

California Long COVID Patients Are Waiting 6 Months to See a Doctor | Susanna Zaraysky

How Is AI Changing LA Courtrooms, and Where’s a Billion Dollars in Mansion Tax Money Going? | Avi Sinai

With 2 Major Refineries Closed, Where Is California’s Gas Coming From? | C.J. Nord, Skip York

Why First-Time Buyers Can’t Find Homes Anymore in California | Tia Patterson

California Schools Face Major Enrollment Decline: What’s Happening? | Gloria Romero

Where California’s Port Trucking Industry Stands Now | Robert Loya

What’s Really Happening in California Prisons? | Amie Ichikawa

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California is closing its fifth state prison. Officials point to lower inmate numbers, but the reasons behind the decline are contested, with effects already visible in local jails and courtrooms.

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco says crime hasn’t dropped—it has been shifted out of view through legal changes. San Francisco public defender Jared Rudolph argues the system is stepping back from punishment as the default response.

In this episode, two voices inside the system trace how California’s justice policies are changing and what those changes leave out.

<em>Views expressed in this video are the opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of NTD.</em>

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