County Jail Forced to Release Inmates Early

Santa Barbara- January 25th, 2010

71-inmates in the Santa Barbara County Jail system were released today (January 25, 2010) under new state guidelines that give inmates more credit for good behavior.

The changes, which are intended to reduce prison overcrowding in California’s state prisons, apply to all inmates, including those in county jail facilities. Under the old guidelines, inmates with good behavior were given one-third day credit for each full day served. Changes made to Section 4019 of the California Penal Code now give one half-day credit for good behavior.

As a result, 22-inmates were released from the Santa Barbara County Jail when the rules took effect today. Another 49 inmates in the jail’s Alternative Sentencing Program were released from Electronic Monitoring and the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP). By the end of the month the County Jail expects to release a total of 128 inmates (50 from the Jail and 78 from Alternative Sentencing). The new state requirements do not apply to violent felons or registered sex offenders.

“These early releases hamper our ability to provide for the public’s safety,” said Sheriff Bill Brown. “These convicted criminals, who should be serving their sentences in jail, will now be back on the streets with the potential to reoffend. The early releases undermine confidence in the criminal justice system by sending the wrong message to the criminal element.”

At the beginning of the day there were a total of 980 inmates in the county jail system and an additional 200 inmates taking part in the Alternative Sentencing program.

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

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