Federal mediators have proposed a plan to ease overcrowding in California prisons without releasing convicted criminals early, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Two mediators appointed by a panel of three federal judges have proposed a settlement of a federal lawsuit against the state that would reduce prison overcrowding by sending low-risk offenders to other facilities, such as community-based programs and county jails, the newspaper said Monday.

State and local officials, as well as inmates' rights advocates, are reviewing the plan, which was developed during six months of negotiations with parties to two federal lawsuits that have been consolidated.

If there is no settlement by the time the three judges meet early next month, the case is likely to proceed to trial, the newspaper said.

The diversion to other facilities would involve convicted criminals whose sentences would require them to serve less than a year in prison and parolees deemed to be low-risk.

The plan could reduce California's prison population by tens of thousands -- down from the current 171,000 -- by 2012.

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