California may release 10% of inmates in pandemic response
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California officials will soon release another 2,100 inmates from state prisons in response to the coronavirus pandemic and in all now plans to release a total of more than 10,000 inmates, or nearly 10 percent of prisoners, as Gov. Gavin Newsom responds to intensifying pressure from advocates, lawmakers and federal judges.
The latest step, outlined in a memo Thursday, is projected to soon free about 2,100 inmates by granting most a one-time three-month credit. It follows other measures that are expected to quickly bring the releases of about 8,300 inmates six months before they normally would have been paroled.
“To continue to effectively fight this virus, we must create more space in our prisons, both to expand physical distancing to slow COVID 19’s spread and to ease some of the immense challenges staff face every day,” California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Ralph Diaz said in memo to all inmates Thursday.
He said the 12- week credit applies “to everyone in CDCR custody” except those who are on death row, serving life-without-parole, or who have a serious rules violation between March 1 and July 5.
That means it applies to about 108,000 inmates, the department estimated, and makes about 2,100 eligible for release as soon as next month. Among them are inmates in state firefighting camps that have seen dwindling numbers as the earlier releases have mounted.
Officials on Thursday said the new program would bring the swift release of 3,100 inmates and the previously announced programs about 7,000 inmates, but revised the estimates Friday.
In addition, officials announced two targeted early release programs on Friday. They cannot estimate how many will be released under those policies because there are too many variables, said spokeswoman Dana Simas.
Inmates with less than a year left to serve can be released if they are at one of eight prisons that have large populations of medically vulnerable prisoners. Unlike with the 12-week program, they can’t be sex offenders or serving time for domestic violence or a violent crime. Those age 30 and up are eligible for immediate release, while there will be a caseby-case review for younger inmates.