80 inmates to be released to Stanislaus in state’s effort to reduce prison COVID cases
Of the thousands of inmates to be released early from state prisons beginning Wednesday, more than 80 will be coming back to Stanislaus County.
This is the second wave of early releases from California prisons as part of the state’s effort to reduce the population to curb the spread of COVID-19. There have been outbreaks at several prisons, the most severe at San Quentin where there are more than 1,000 cases.
In April, 3,500 inmates who had 60 or fewer days remaining on their sentences, including 37 from Stanislaus County, were released early. About the same amount are expected to be released this time but eligibility has been expanded to prisoners who have as much as 180 days left on their sentence.
Also, “the releases will continue on a rolling basis until CDCR (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) determines they are no longer necessary,” according to the agency.
“CDCR has indicated that they will continue to evaluate inmates for an early release on a regular basis,” said Stanislaus County Chief Probation Officer Mark Ferriera. “We are anticipating another early release list to be released next week or the week after.”
Prisoners are released back to the county of their last legal residence. Most inmates are supervised by county probation departments but inmates who were in custody on more serious offenses are released to State Parole. Ferriera said his department was given a list of 80 offenders but that does account for some who will be supervised by parole.
All of the eligible inmates were scheduled for release sometime this year, and half of the inmates from Stanislaus County would have been released by the end of the August, Ferriera said.
Their crimes include auto theft, possession of a concealed knife, grand theft and possession of a controlled substance for sale.
No one serving sentences for a serious or violent offenses, domestic violence or sex crimes is eligible for early release.
Ferriera said additional requirements were added in this round of releases as well. The CDCR is taking into account an offender’s risk assessment for violence and will not release inmates who do not have an established release plans, including housing.
The probation department is responsible for ensuring inmates have adequate housing before they are released and that will take some time so the 80 inmates will not all return to Stanislaus County on Wednesday; they will be released in phases.
COVID outbreaks in prison
As of Monday there were 2,582 inmates and 407 correctional and medical staff with active cases of COVID-19. Twenty-two inmates have died.
Nearly half of the cases are in San Quentin prison. The CDCR set up air-conditioned tents within the prison grounds on Tuesday and are working to determine the most effective use of additional medical triage and housing space.
The outbreak began after nearly 200 inmates in late May were transferred there from the California Institute for Men in Chino, which had 450 coronavirus cases while San Quentin had none.
The CDCR said some of the inmates eligible for early release will be coming from San Quentin but did not provide a number.
Inmates were offered COVID-19 testing seven days prior to their release and anyone who refused was denied early release, according to the agency.
County Public Health Departments will be notified of any released inmates who test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to it.
Parole and probation departments are responsible for ensuring those offenders isolate or quarantine and arrange housing for any who cannot do so at their pre-approved housing.
Ferriera said his department has achieved quarantine and isolation requirements with GPS monitoring.
Those offenders who have tested positive or been exposed to the virus have an “exclusionary zone on their homes” and if they step foot outside their front door probation is notified.
“Our number one priority is to put the community’s health and safety first,” Ferriera said. “We believe we can do that through evidence-based services, supervision and offender accountability.”
He said two offenders have been booked on 10-day flash incarcerations for leaving their homes and were charged with a new misdemeanor offense of failing to abide by the quarantine order.
Both of those inmates were housed in negative pressure rooms at the Stanislaus County jail and only one had a positive case of COVID-19.
Sheriff Jeff Dirkse said that inmate accounted for the jail’s only confirmed case of COVID-19 and has since been released with no impact to the other inmates.
In an effort to reduce the county jail populations the Judicial Council of California on April 6 established a temporary bail schedule that reduced to $0 the bail for most misdemeanor and some low-level felony offenses. The order expired June 20; Stanislaus County implemented its own order that was similar but excluded more crimes from the $0 bail.
Dirkse said since both measures were implemented there has been an increase in calls for services but not a substantial increase in crime.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 1:05 PM.
