James E. Tilton, Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation made a whirlwind swing through San Bernardino to meet and thank the officials for supporting the implementation of AB 900. Signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger April of 2007, the historic legislation provides a road map to reform and provides short-term and long-term solutions for the California prison system. According to Tilton, the reforms have already reduced the prison population from 173,000 to 170,000, by infill beds, getting people into drug treatment programs and making beds available for those who are mentally ill.

County Supervisor, Josie Gonzales welcomed Tilton, area elected officials, community and law enforcement citizens. He thanked them for this community's support. He will be retiring in May, but has left a team in place that can carry out the reforms already in action…

Was it only two years ago that The Reporter was bemoaning yet another change at the top of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation?

In April 2006, Jeanne S. Woodford stepped down as secretary, not two months after the departure of her predecessor, Rod Hickman. In stepped appointee James Tilton, with a solid financial background but no real experience in corrections. He lasted two years, resigning this week for health reasons.

Mr. Tilton's announcement came a day after his department released a 20-page report lauding its success in the wake of Assembly Bill 900, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed in April 2007…

Marty Aroian, former president of the California Institution for Men's chapter of the California Corrections Peace Officers Association and a correctional officer at the Chino prison, expressed hope for change. "I would certainly hope that Mr. Cate would concentrate more attention on the seriously declining infrastructure at the California Institution for Men," Aroian said. "We have serious plumbing and electrical problems at CIM."

Lt. Mark Hargrove, spokesman for the Chino prison, said he was sad that Tilton would be leaving.

"Under Mr. Tilton's leadership, the California Institution for Men has made many positive changes," Hargrove said. "He was attentive to the challenges we face on a daily basis and strived to make conditions better. He will be missed."…

Cate, 41, was named secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on Tuesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, which is a little bit like being named skipper of the Titanic after it hit the iceberg.

The department Cate is about to lead is under siege from every direction. Lawmakers are upset about cost overruns. The federal courts have taken over the health care system and threatened to cap the number of inmates jammed into the overcrowded prisons. The correctional officers who guard the inmates are working without a contract and seem to be at constant war with management…

California's fourth prison chief in a row is leaving earlier than planned from a meat-grinder of a job reputed to be among the toughest in state government. So what makes the incoming Matt Cate think he can depart on his own terms?

"This mission is where my heart is," said Cate, named Tuesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the $225,000-a-year job running the state's massively challenged prison agency. "Public safety has been my career because I care about it."

Cate, who for four years has overseen the prison department as its independently appointed inspector general, said he intends to stick with it through the end of Schwarzenegger's term, and maybe longer…

Citing health reasons, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Jim Tilton is announcing Tuesday that he is retiring from his job and that he will be replaced by the prison system's inspector general, Matt Cate.

Tilton, 59, who stepped into the corrections pressure cooker two years ago after two his two immediate predecessors had resigned within two months of each other, declined to provide details on his health issues except to say they could be life threatening if he does not address them.

The corrections agency has scheduled a noon press conference in Sacramento to announce the leadership change…

In a recent attempt to bring himself into favor with the public, Secretary of the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR) James Tilton proffered a tiny press release in guise of a letter to the editor in a February issue of the Sacramento Bee.

In his letter, Tilton declared that "The progress being made speaks for itself when considering current (prison) population trends." Tilton further blurts that "Today's prison population has decreased from a record high of 173,479 inmates in October 2007 to the current population of 170,746 inmates - a reduction of nearly 3,000 inmates, or enough to house one full prison."

Secretary Tilton went on to brag that the CDCR has made "tremendous progress managing it's inmate population." Using the talents of a skilled street corner hustler, Tilton's insubstantial try at conning the public into believing that his industrial complex is reducing the prison population by thousands is a bald face lie…