L.A. County sheriff gives early release to 200 inmates, saying there was no place to house them

At least 200 inmates received early releases from the L.A. County jail system this week because officials couldn't find beds for them as the Sheriff's Department attempted to downsize the population of a detention facility in Castaic.

The action occurred as the Sheriff's Department is trying to cuts its budget by about 9% by reducing deputy overtime and slashing the inmate population at the north facility of the Pitchess Detention Center.

Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said the inmates were released beginning Tuesday. Sheriff's Department policy requires that most male inmates serve at least 80% of their sentence. Whitmore said these inmate were released after serving only about 50% of their sentence because there was nowhere else to place them.

The releases came the same day Sheriff Lee Baca told The Times in an interview he didn't believe the proposed cuts would require early releases. Whitmore said Baca was informed about the early releases after the interview.

It remains unclear how many more inmates will be released early. 

On Tuesday, Baca said the department was "still a long way away" from accelerating the early releases of inmates from the county jail system.

Baca said he was considering $128 million in cuts over the next 16 months -- or about 9% of the sheriff's nearly $1.3-billion general fund budget.

Most of the savings -- about $58 million -- would be achieved through reductions in overtime. Sheriff's officials said many of the uniformed deputies assigned to administrative duties would work schedules that otherwise would be filled by deputies accruing overtime.

The sheriff's command staff, including Baca himself, also would help fill gaps in law enforcement staffing, whether it is out on the streets or in the jails.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: L.A. Times file

Comments

[Guest]

What in the world........????????????????????????????

[ron]

strong union

[Don Teofilo]

Why aren't the "illegals" who are in county jail deported immediately? Enough is enough!

[Tango]

Super. So now 200 of SoCal's finest can be on the prowl for the next Chelsea King? What a sick society we live in.

[kt]

How is it that a sherriff's office may unilaterally decide to release inmates early and choose what inmates will be released early? Does there have to be a specific law against this to prevent it? Or are they working under the state's approval, or...?

[Adee]

awww......cuuuzzz.......

[B. Loya]

We should find an Island some where and send them all there. You do the crime so you gottta do the time!!! They can grow produce, give them some cows and chickens and they can fish....

[JR]

And you wonder why people keep getting victimized by reoffenders like what happened to Chelsea King? How can criminals have respect for the judicial system that is run by politicians interested only in getting themselves re-elected? This is another expedient that will result in more tragedy. Just pray that you're not the next victim of one of these criminals.

[Daniel]

Decriminalize marijuana and stop the the bail bond companies from keeping non-violent people in jail for financial gain!

[MC]

Better hire more COPS!!!!

[const]

wow this is horrible....we open our streets up to the possibility of another sad and tragic Lily Burke or Chelsea King victim that could have been prevented by law enforcement and the justice system.

[Luis]

L.A county is an embarrasmen nationaly, and the issue starts with mayor villaraigoza,followed by all members of city council. I hope all residents show up to city hall demanding answers.

[RW]

Great. Just great.

[Matt Sutherland]

"The action occurred as the Sheriff's Department is trying to cuts its budget by about 9% by reducing deputy overtime and slashing the inmate population at the north facility of the Pitchess Detention Center."

Cuts its budget? Can an editor please start eyeballing these articles before they go out? An early-released inmate could've penned this article with better grammar.

[Dude]

So does this mean the sheriff will now approve law-abiding citizens' applications to carry concealed weapons? Of course not- why would he let us defend ourselves from the thugs he puts back on the street?

[la]

Well that was embarrassing...while the sheriff is giving an interview, 200 prisoners were being processed behind the scene to be released, if this is the beginning; god save us...

[sifty]

Maybe Sheriff Baca would like to house some of these criminals at his house?

[Eve]

What...as if we are now less safe??? lol please.

Something has got to give...they're packing the inmates in like sardines.

We need MORE PRISONS and jails - which would create MORE JOBS!

[Sting]

WHAT??? CRIMINALS DO NOT DESERVE THIS!!!!!

[Bob]

Might as well save money on cops and courts. How do you think this makes cops and judges feel? Why put life on the line if let off anyway? Lots of waste in county; surely other alternatives.

[ROGER]

WE NEED A TENT CAMP

[tazdave]

Couldn't find beds? They're criminals for crying out loud. Let 'em sleep on the floor. Maybe they won't want to come back.

[lvn119]

not enough beds?? criminals do not deserve beds! make them sleep on the floor!!

[opinionated]

perfect! and temporary sleeping quarters so close by ( Ventura church parking lots)... doesn't get any better than this...

[sireneb]

One would think the head guy would know what was going on and be a part of decision-making, on such a strongly charged issue. Or at least that he would be consulted and apprised through channels that this was going on. Or that he would have checked into it prior to going on record in an interview. One would think.