Confusion over early release of county jail inmates persists

With the number of inmates who have been released from county jails around the state at more than 2,000, the confusion surrounding the law that has prompted the actions shows no signs of abating.

On Thursday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Steven Perk blocked an immediate attempt by the union representing Orange County sheriff’s deputies to temporarily prevent early releases there, where more than 400 have occurred since the law took effect Jan. 25.

But Perk also set a court hearing next month for additional arguments.

The judge’s decision came two days after California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown sent a bulletin to local law enforcement agencies across the state saying the law -- designed to reduce the state prison population -- also applied to county jail inmates.

The law speeds the process under which inmates are released by changing the formula used to determine time off for good behavior.

Brown tried to soften the blow by saying good behavior credits should be calculated from the time the law went into effect, rather than when the inmate started his sentence.

That advice, however, came too late for many counties -- including Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura -- which had already gone ahead with large-scale releases based on calculations of credits from the time sentences began.

In Sacramento, a judge who last week granted a request by the sheriff’s deputies union to block early releases rescinded that order Tuesday to allow the Sacramento public defender’s office to file legal papers in the case.

Representatives of the union are expected back in court Friday in a second bid to stop the releases.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has chosen to ignore the issue altogether.

“I know one thing, we are not letting anyone out under the state principles and the interpretation of that law,” said Sheriff Lee Baca. “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 used in Orange County.

“We believe that one of these released criminals is going to victimize someone,” he said.

andrew.blankstein @latimes.com

richard.winton @latimes.com