Central Coast News KION/KCBAPublic Safety Realignment Plan Causing Early Release of Criminals

LOS ANGELES, Calif.-  A law meant to ease overcrowding in California prisons coul be causing the same problem at jails on the local level.  The Los Angeles Times reports some county jails are receiving far more inmates than expected.  Some non-violent offenders began serving time in jail last month so prisons could comply with a Supreme Court decision to lower the prison populations by 30 thousand.  The high number of prisoners is foricing a scramble at some Southern California jails. 

For example, The Los Angeles Times reports Los Angeles Coutny was supposed to get 600 extra prisoners through the realignment process, but has currently received more than 900.  The Orange County jail has taken in double the inmates that expected which means the facility could reach capacity by May.  Jail operators had thought it would take until 2013 to reach capacity which would have given them time to find more beds for offenders. 

According to the report, the jail system in Kern County got so full last week, 50 parole violators including thieves were let out of jail.  Governor Jerry Brown's Public Safety Realignment Bill took effect on October 1st, 2011.  It means non-violent, non-serious, non-sex crime criminals can be sentenced to jail instead of prison.  It also shifts parole responsibilities down to county probation officers. 

Law enforcement leaders on the Central Coast raised concerns about local jail overcrowding long before the bill took effect.  In late October, Santa Cruz County jail began releasing minor offenders to avoid overcrowding.    They're expected to release 100 inmates over the next few months but say the inmates will be monitored by global positioning devices.