Keep Bailing

Nonviolent inmates who are currently in a Los Angeles County jail could serve only 80% of their jail terms.  And, according to department officials, that number could be knocked down to them serving only 50% of their sentences.

So what’s happening here?  LA County Sheriff Lee Baca stated that these early release sentences for inmates may be the future of what’s “inevitable” as the county’s budget crisis continues. The Department currently faces a $128 million budget gap.

Department spokesman Steve Whitmore stated, “The discussion has moved to the forefront… It has become another tool that we are looking at.”

Baca stated the department was looking at several measures to help reduce the budget by about nine percent, including cutting overtime pay and moving hundreds of deputies from their adminstrative duties to patrolling the streets. He added that early releases are yet another measure to help cut costs.

For a time in 2004, Baca moved for the early release of petty criminals to help save budget money. Some law enforcement officials criticized this decision.

Further, Ex LAPD Chief, William J. Bratton stated the early releases actually undercut the LAPD’s so-called ”broken-windows strategy.” The strategy based on the idea that punishing lesser offenses would lead to reductions in more serious crimes.

Just this week, at least 200 county inmates were released in the Castaic detention facility due to downsizing. Steve Whitmore stated that inmates were released beginning on Tuesday.

I don’t know if this is better or worse than Baca’s budget tactics last year of calling for the closing of Pitchess Jail (which didn’t happen).