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Schwarzenegger's administration of the prisons has been stung by allegations from a federal judge who claims it's "business as usual" at the Department of Corrections. Yesterday, this judge warned Sacramento that he may select a "reciever" to oversee the entire state corrections system, in the place of the Governor. No such step has ever been taken by the federal government against a state over the issue of prisons.
U.S. District Judge Thelton E. Henderson says he's rankled by Arnold's "girly" deal with the politically-connected and scandal-plagued prison guards union. Schwarzenegger's agreement gave the union unprecedented administrative control over jails, along with new benefits. Henderson believes that the problems with state jails have been "condoned for many years by the highest level of California officials" and he is alarmed by Arnold's apparent lack of seriousness towards the goal of reform.
Henderson is bringing this extraordinary threat against Schwarzenegger because it seems apparent that the state is "no longer willing" to bring its jails into compliance with federal court orders.
