500 Prison Inmates Expected To Be Released Into Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County could receive up to 500 of the 8,000 inmates due to be released early from state prisons, the county's chief probation officer told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

The release of eligible inmates is being done to slow coronavirus spread inside California prisons, but the "surge" of additional parolees in Riverside County will be difficult to handle, Chief Ron Miller said.

"We've got things to work on and prepare for," he said. "We need additional funding to manage the surge."

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced last week that early releases will begin this month, though counties have not been fully apprised of the exact numbers returning to their jurisdictions, according to Miller.

He said the Riverside County Department of Probation is estimating about 500 parolees will be added to the post-release community supervision rolls. The county is currently monitoring 1,894 PRCS "clients," Miller said.

According to the probation chief, the usual flow of inmates moving out of the state correctional system and into county supervision is 100 a month. However, last month, the number nearly doubled. Since March, more than 10,000 inmates have been granted early parole to slow COVID-19 spread.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, there are 2,365 active COVID-19 cases currently within the prison system; 35 virus-related deaths have been reported among inmates. In total, 6,455 inmates have tested positive for the illness.

According to Department of Probation figures, the highest number of PRCS parolees are going into the cities of Hemet and Riverside. Miller said the pending releases may negatively impact the county if they're returning with infections, and the state has not been transparent on the number of ill individuals who may be among the ex-convicts.

According to the CDCR, inmates will be tested for COVID-19 within "seven days of release," and state officials will work with local law enforcement and other agencies for housing and reentry needs of the convicts.

According to the probation chief, the county will require higher Assembly Bill 109 Public Safety Realignment Act appropriations to manage the influx. But as of now, the amount of funding to the county has been slashed to 2014 levels, Miller said.

"We're asking the state for more funding," he said. "We need to assist this new group of clients coming into the community (with living expenses, health care expenses and job resources)."

The CDCR has provided some details on which inmates will be eligible for release.

For example, inmates across all state prisons who have 180 days or less to serve will be released on a "rolling basis" provided they meet certain criteria:
· Have 180 days or less to serve on their sentence
· Are not currently serving time for domestic violence or a violent crime (as defined by law)
· Have no current or prior sentences that require them to register as a sex offender under Penal Code 290
· Do not have a high risk for violence

Under the criteria, the CDCR estimates that 4,800 inmates could be eligible for release by the end of July.

The CDCR is also reviewing early release for inmates with a year or less to serve on their sentence and who are housed in prisons with large populations of high-risk individuals. The institutions include San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, California Health Care Facility in Stockton, California Institution for Men in Chino, California Institution for Women in Chino, California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Folsom State Prison in Folsom, and Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County.

In order for these inmates to be eligible for early release, they must also meet specific criteria:
· Have 365 days or less to serve on their sentence
· Are not currently serving time for domestic violence or a violent crime as defined by law
· Have no current or prior sentences that require them to register as a sex offender
· Do not have a high risk for violence

Inmates who are 30 and over and who meet the criteria are immediately eligible for release, according to the CDCR. Those who meet the criteria but are 29 or under will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for release. Officials will consider medical risk, case factors, and time served, among other issues, the agency said.

The state is also offering credits to inmates, which could allow additional early releases. CDCR estimates that nearly 108,000 inmates would qualify under the program, and 2,100 would become eligible for release between July and September.

Other inmates who might qualify for early release include those over age 65 with chronic conditions, or those with respiratory illnesses such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The CDCR is also reviewing potential early release for inmates who are in hospice or pregnant.

Inmates condemned to death or serving life without the possibility of parole, "high-risk" sex offenders, and those with a high risk for violence do not qualify, according to the CDCR.

—City News Service contributed to this report.