![\"http:\/\/cache.boston.com\/resize\/bonzai-fba\/Globe_Photo\/2009\/01\/02\/1230952320_2728\/539w.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/cache.boston.com\/resize\/bonzai-fba\/Globe_Photo\/2009\/01\/02\/1230952320_2728\/539w.jpg\" "\\"http:\/\/cache.boston.com\/resize\/bonzai-fba\/Globe_Photo\/2009\/01\/02\/1230952320_2728\/539w.jpg\\"")
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There is a new move in Sacramento to exempt county jails from an early-release law designed to ease overcrowding at state prisons.<\/p>\n
More than 2,000 inmates have been released from county jails in the last month in response to the law, a Times review has found.<\/p>\n
There has been much debate about whether the law applies to county
\njails. This week California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown sent a bulletin to
\nlocal law enforcement agencies saying the law does cover county jail
\ninmates. The bulletin said some counties miscalculated the release
\ntimes of some inmates, but it did not recommend stopping early releases.<\/p>\n
The legislation was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year.<\/p>\n
\nOfficials have said that over the next year it would reduce the prison
\npopulation by releasing 6,500 "low-level" offenders, including inmates
\nincarcerated for nonviolent crimes such as theft and drug possession.
\nThe state prison system has not yet released prisoners early under the
\nterms of the law.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On
\nThursday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Steven Perk blocked an
\nimmediate attempt by the union representing Orange County sheriff’s
\ndeputies to temporarily prevent early releases there, where more than
\n400 have occurred since the law took effect Jan. 25.<\/p>\n
Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, an author of the original law, filed amendments Friday aimed at clarifying that the law only applies to state prison. As currently written, most counties have concluded it also applies to their jails. The one major exception has been L.A. County, which has not released any inmates early in response to the law.<\/p>\n
\u00a0"There’s some chaos out there," Torrico told the Associated Press. "I can’t imagine anyone is going to oppose this. We’re talking about public safety."\n<\/p>\n
— Shelby Grad and Andrew Blankstein<\/p>\n
Photo: Inmate at Kern Valley State Prison. Credit: Barbara Davidson \/ Los Angeles Times<\/em><\/p>\n More news in L.A. Now:<\/strong><\/p>\n Pelicans eat through bird-rescue group’s budget <\/a> Manhunt underway for driver who fatally struck 19-year-old man in San Bernardino<\/a><\/p>\n Evacuation orders lifted in La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge<\/a><\/p>\n New push to exempt California’s county jails from inmate-release law<\/a><\/p>\n L.A. police warns against dangers of angel’s trumpet as Los Feliz teens get sick<\/a><\/p>\n
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