Bill would prevent late-night jail releases
July death of woman freed from Santa Rita at 1:30 a.m. inspires measure that also would provide rehab help
DUBLIN >> State Sen. Nancy Skinner has introduced new legislation to help ban the late night releases from incarceration, in honor of a former inmate who died hours after being released from the Santa Rita Jail.
Senate Bill 1142, amended last week, is called the “Getting Home Safe Act,” and would require people scheduled to be released from county jail between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or sundown, whichever is later, to actually be released during that time. Santa Rita releases about 100 inmates a day, and with it, comes the significant amount of paperwork and tracking that goes with it, according to the sheriff’s office.
The bill specifies if people are scheduled to be released after that time period, they would be given the option to voluntarily stay in jail for up to 16 additional hours, or until normal business hours, the bill language states. If people do not voluntarily decide to stay in jail under that program, they would be offered a free ride anywhere in the county, or a 100-mile radius.
Skinner’s bill is a direct re-
sult of the death of Jessica St. Louis, 26, a former inmate who was released from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin July 28 around 1:30 a.m. and headed to the nearest BART station, more than a mile away. Although she made it to the Dublin/Pleasanton station, it would not open for several more hours. She was found dead in the parking lot of a suspected drug overdose, according to authorities.
It was St. Louis’ death that sparked outrage, not only from her family but also advocacy groups, and Skinner herself, who called the death “preventable.” Santa Rita releases inmates on a 24-hour basis but advocacy groups, such as the Young Women’s Freedom Center and the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition, called on an end to late-night releases. On Aug. 19, they held a vigil and walk, in the dark, from the jail to the BART station, taking the same route St.Louis would have taken when she was released.
“The Getting Home Safe Act is an important move in the right direction, and is an accomplishment for women who have been impacted by the system, and who have risen up to demand change,” said Jessica Nolan, executive director of the center in a statement. “It is the leadership of these women that will prevent another tragedy like the absolutely avoidable death of Jessica St. Louis.”
In 2014, a state law passed that allows sheriff’s offices to offer a voluntary program to inmates after their sentences are up. Under that program, they can be held in custody up to 16 hours or until normal business hours or a treatment center opens.
Similar to the bill language, in San Francisco, a new program established last year allows released inmates to get a taxi cab ride up to 20 miles away, according to Nolan. So far, the program has provided 500 rides, she said.
The new Senate bill would also give released inmates the right to ask for help getting into a drug/alcohol rehab program, and require the county jail to arrange transportation to that program for free. Other bill specifics include that inmates who were in jail longer than 30 days, be provided with three days supply worth of medication, if needed.
The bill would also require that the Board of State and Community Corrections establish a “LateNight Release Prevention Task Force” that would submit a report in January 2021 about the progress of the provisions, and any suggestions to end latenight releases.
The bill was read and referred to the Rules Committee.