California's New Prison Chief

Four years ago, as head of Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections, Jeffrey Beard testified in federal court that California’s prisons were dangerously overcrowded. Now, as the new head of California’s corrections system, Beard says the crisis is over and the courts should release state prisons from a federal population cap. We talk with Secretary Beard about conditions in state lockups and his plans for improvement.

• More: State Challenges Federal Oversight of Prisons