Federal judges on Feb. 10 gave California two more years to cut its prison population, the latest step in a lawsuit aimed at improving inmate medical care. The original order was given in 2009 when California was ordered to reduce its prison population by roughly 25 percent. 

The order adopts a proposal by Gov. Jerry Brown's administration that promised the judges the state would not seek further delays or court appeals if an extension was granted. The judges made clear in their order that they expect the state to meet certain deadlines and said they would appoint a “compliance officer” to ensure it does so.

SEE ALSO: CA Prison Reform: Meet The Stakeholders

SEE ALSO: California Prison Reform: Assessing Realignment

Gov. Brown, who is expected to seek re-election, has been criticized over his inability to adequately deal with the extreme overcrowding in California prisons. His 2011 Realignment program, which shifts responsibility for nonviolent, low-level offenders from prisons to county jails, has yet to prove itself as a viable solution. 

Read more at Reuters.

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