Early releases from county jails in California likely to continue

With the number of inmates released early from county jails across the state surpassing 2,000, there are growing signs that the controversial program will continue unabated.

On Thursday, an Orange County judge rejected a request by the Orange County sheriff’s deputies union to immediately halt the early releases from that county’s jail, saying that decision should be in the hands of Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

Beginning Jan. 25, counties started releasing inmates before their terms expired, responding to a new state law designed to reduce the state prison population.

There has been much debate about whether the law applies to county jails. This week California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown sent a bulletin to local law enforcement agencies saying the law does cover county jail inmates. The bulletin said some counties miscalculated the release times of some inmates, but it did not recommend stopping early releases.

The legislation was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year.

Officials have said that over the next year it would reduce the prison population by 6,500 “low-level” offenders, including inmates incarcerated for nonviolent crimes such as theft and drug possession. The state prison system has not yet released prisoners early under the terms of the law.

Many of the state’s largest sheriff’s departments have let inmates out in response to the law. One major exception is Los Angeles County, where Sheriff Lee Baca has reiterated his refusal to allow the early releases.

“I know one thing: We are not letting anyone out under the state principles and the interpretation of that law,” Baca told The Times. “No one has ever said to anyone who runs a county jail in the state of California you cannot keep people in jail.”

Wayne Quint, president of the Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, said that he would like to see the same approach to the law in Orange County and that the current interpretation was putting the public at risk.

“Our opinion is that one inmate getting out early is one too many,” Quint said. “We believe that one of these released criminals is going to victimize someone.”

The judge in Orange County will hold another hearing next month on whether to block further early releases.

Last week, a judge in Sacramento County ordered a halt to the early releases there. But this week the judge lifted the temporary restraining order, and the Sheriff’s Department has begun early releases again. Another hearing is scheduled for Friday.

andrew.blankstein@latimes.com

richard.winton@latimes.com