76K California violent, career felons get earlier releases
DON THOMPSON, Associated Press
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1of3FILE - In this April 23, 2021, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Big Sur, Calif. California on Saturday is increasing early release credits for tens of thousands of inmates including violent and repeat felons as it further trims the population of what once was the nation s largest state correctional system. Officials announced in mid-April that they will close a second prison as a result of the dwindling population, fulfilling a promise by Newsom.Nic Coury/APShow MoreShow Less
2of3FILE - In this April 28, 2020 file photo State Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Tehama, left discusses the impact the coronavirus is having on rural residents and businesses during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. California on Saturday is increasing early release credits for tens of thousands of inmates including violent and repeat felon
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) â California is giving 76,000 inmates, including violent and repeat felons, the opportunity to leave prison earlier as the state aims to further trim the population of what once was the nationâs largest state correctional system.
More than 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible for good behavior credits that shorten their sentences by one-third instead of the one-fifth that had been in place since 2017. That includes nearly 20,000 inmates who are serving life sentences with the possibility of parole.
The new rules take effect Saturday but it will be months or years before any inmates go free earlier. Corrections officials say the goal is to reward inmates who better themselves while critics said the move will endanger the public.
Under the change, more than 10,000 prisoners convicted of a second serious but nonviolent offense under the state s “three strikes” law will be eligible for release after serving half their sentences. That s an increase from the current time-served credit of one-third of their sentence.
The same increased release time will apply to nearly 2,900 nonviolent third strikers, the corrections department projected.
Also as of Saturday, all minimum-security inmates in work camps, including those in firefighting camps, will be eligible for the same month of earlier release for every month they spend in the camp, regardless of the severity of their crime.
The changes were approved this week by the state Office of Administrative Law.
76K California inmates to be released earlier as state trims prison population
Published article
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - With little notice, California on Saturday is increasing early release credits for 76,000 inmates, including violent and repeat felons, as it further trims the population of what once was the nation’s largest state correctional system.
More than 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible for good behavior credits that shorten their sentences by one-third instead of the one-fifth that had been in place since 2017.
That includes nearly 20,000 inmates who are serving life sentences with the possibility of parole.
More than 10,000 inmates convicted of a second serious but nonviolent offense under the state’s three strikes law will be eligible for release after serving half their sentences. That’s an increase from the current time-served credit of one-third of their sentence.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. With little notice, California on Saturday is increasing early release credits for 76,000 inmates, including violent and repeat felons, as it further trims the population of what once was the nation’s largest state correctional system.
More than 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible for good behavior credits that shorten their sentences by one-third instead of the one-fifth that had been in place since 2017.
That includes nearly 20,000 inmates who are serving life sentences with the possibility of parole.
More than 10,000 inmates convicted of a second serious but nonviolent offense under the state’s three strikes law will be eligible for release after serving half their sentences. That’s an increase from the current time-served credit of one-third of their sentence.