THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF AND OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES RECENTLY VOICED CONCERN OVER THE STATE’S EARLY RELEASE OF THOUSANDS OF PRISON INMATES.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE SHERIFF BELIEVES WHILE THE RELEASE WILL LESSEN COSTS TO THE STATE IT WILL, IN TURN, BURDEN THE BUDGETS OF LOCAL AGENCIES.  AS OUTLINED, THE RELEASE PROGRAM WILL ENABLE INMATES TO EARN CREDITS TO REDUCE THEIR TIME BY PARTICIPATING IN SUCH THINGS AS FIRE FIGHTING AND DRUG PROGRAMS.  IN ADDITION, ONCE RELEASED, INMATES WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO SUPERVISED PAROLE AND/OR TECHNICAL PAROLE VIOLATIONS.      

THE PROGRAM DOES SEEM TO HAVE SOME FEATURES WHICH ARE FAVORED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES, SUCH AS GPS SUPERVISION OF PAROLEE GANG MEMBERS AND 2000 ADDITIONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES TO BE USED AS AN  ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION FOR PAROLE VIOLATORS.  THE SHERIFF, WHO HAS HER OWN BUDGET PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, ANTICIPATES THIS MOVE WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN COUNTY JAIL COSTS AS THE NUMBER OF FELONS IN THE JURISDICTION WILL INCREASE, THEREBY, LIKELY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF  CRIME AS WELL.