Impeached California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the early release of more than 10,000 prisoners last year, citing the epidemic. Victims’ groups, as well as police, said they included dangerous criminals. ABC reported on May 1 that Newsom has now approved early release for 76,000 more prisoners in California, including 20,000 lifers. In particular, Gov. Newsom has changed the policy to implement early release by creating “emergency regulations” that go beyond public consultation.
The new rules were approved last week by the California Office of Administrative Law and took effect May 1.
Photo: California is offering early release to 76,000 more inmates, including violent offenders, felons and life inmates. Pictured is the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange County, California
Under the new rules, more than 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible to receive good conduct points and have their sentences reduced by 1/3, more than 1/5 of the sentence reductions in place since 2017, including nearly 20,000 who are serving life sentences.
More than 10,000 inmates convicted of second serious crimes, but of non-violent offenses, will be eligible for a half reduction in their sentences, compared to the 1/3 reduction previously.
Also starting Saturday, all minimum-security inmates in work camps, including those in fire camps, will be eligible for early release for the same month for every month they spend in a work camp, regardless of the severity of their offense.
The Associated Press reported that the policy change was made through the development of “emergency regulations” (emergency regulations), which allow the government to implement new rules without public consultation, although the government must submit permanent regulations on the policy next year.
Corrections officials say the policy is intended to reward inmates for self-improvement, a move that critics say will endanger the public.
The city of Los Angeles, home to more than 4 million people, saw more than 3,000 burglaries in the first quarter of 2021 just gone. Violent crimes, including robberies, aggravated assaults, and homicides, occurred in nearly 4,000 cases in the first 2 months of the year.
Many Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups, however, are still calling for further prisoner releases or shorter sentences. The Californians United for a Responsible Budget said earlier in April that California should close at least 10 more of its 35 prisons.
Last Monday, April 26, the California Secretary of State said that the signatures collected by the recall campaign were certified and that enough signatures had been collected to trigger a recall special election. California voters may elect a new governor in November.
In response to Newsom’s latest round of early prisoner releases, the “Recall Newsom 2020” campaign tweeted on Saturday (May 1), “Newsom tweeted that he wants to abolish the death penalty! life inmates. Why is he doing this to our state? Shutting down business but opening up prisons! Close the beaches but open the borders!”
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