Sheriff Unlocks Jail Doors Early for 50 : Law enforcement: Women serving misdemeanor terms are freed. Budget cuts may bring more releases, Block warns.

Seeking to dramatize his worst-case predictions about coming budget cuts, Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block on Monday freed 50 inmates from Sybil Brand Institute.

Sheriff’s officials say the freed inmates--all women convicted of misdemeanors--represent the first splash in what could become a tidal wave of early releases in the weeks ahead. Block has warned that the county’s jail population could drop from 21,000 to as low as 10,000.

“I’m out because the county is broke,” said Michelle Huey as she left jail after serving almost four months of a six-month sentence for possession of crack cocaine.

Actually, the county’s money woes are closely tied to the state budget. Depending on the magnitude of state cuts, the Sheriff’s Department could be facing cuts of up to $152 million, Block has said.

Hoping to pressure state and county officials to reduce the size of the cuts, sheriff’s officials sought maximum publicity for the first releases.

There were plenty of complaints about jail food and accommodations from the departing inmates. But for the most part, the women, whose terms were shortened by as little as two days to as much as several months, seemed to embrace freedom with a resigned and jaded air.

“I got out nine days early. Big deal. I was a model prisoner,” said Maria Mendez, who had been convicted of possession of a narcotic for sale and served nine months.

The first few women to appear covered their heads with paper bags, but within moments the bags were lowered and several of the former inmates were telling reporters they were determined never to return to a place where the guards were “abusive,” the food “nasty” and the quarters “too tight.”

Block’s chief spokesman, Capt. Douglas McClure, said, however, that if past experience is any guide, about 70% of those released will repeat their crimes.

The trouble is, McClure added, “we won’t be able to take them back. Once the facilities are closed, there are a whole range of offenders for whom we won’t have room.”

No felons were released Monday. Sheriff’s spokesmen said the women were misdemeanor offenders convicted mainly of drug violations, burglaries, robberies, grand theft, forgeries and prostitution.

McClure said Monday’s releases were needed to make room in overcrowded Sybil Brand for women being transferred from the Mira Loma facility in the Antelope Valley, which is scheduled to be closed next week.

Despite the Sheriff’s Department’s efforts to dramatize the early releases, they are not a new phenomenon. Because of overcrowding, inmates for several years typically have been freed after serving 60% of their sentences.

Now the standard is 55%, which means release comes an average of 12 days sooner.

One of those released Monday, Evelyn Catchings, said her time in jail was a great deterrent. She vowed never to commit another petty theft.

“The food was nasty, the living quarters were too, too tight,” she said. “I’m glad to be out.”