There is only so much capacity in the California prison system. When you reach it, you either need to build more prisons - at taxpayer expense - or make choices on who needs to stay and who needs to go. And considering the billions of dollars Cali is in debt - well - building more prisons ain't an option. So you let out those who are the least risk. Most States give out "goodtime" credit. Nothing new. Most judges give a "range" in their sentence. Ultimately you send home some of the non-violent offenders......
Or have Scalia and Thomas come up with the money to pay to keep all these people in a cage somewhere.
And I always thought they believed in lesser Government and Taxes..... and State's Rights????????