California Gov. Gavin Newsom To Release 8,000 Prisoners Over COVID-19 Outbreaks
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced his plans to release 8,000 prisoners at San Quentin State Prison and other prison facilities by August, due to the rapid-growing COVID-19 outbreaks. His announcement arrives coupled with that of the state setting a new record high for coronavirus deaths: X.
On Friday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) say the 8,000 inmates are in addition to the original 10,000 that were due for release at the start of the pandemic. CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz says, “These actions are taken to provide for the health and safety of the incarcerated population and staff. aim to implement these decompression measures in a way that aligns both public health and public safety.”
RELATED: Gov. Gavin Newsom Orders Immediate Closure Of All Bars In Los Angeles & 6 Other Counties
Jay Jordan, Executive Director, Californians for Safety and Justice adds, “We’re glad the Governor is taking action to release more people. This is absolutely critical for the health and safety of every Californian. Too many people are incarcerated for too long in facilities that spread poor health. Supporting the health and safety of all Californians means releasing people unnecessarily incarcerated and transforming our justice system.”
Furthermore, in order to be eligible, inmates must meet the following 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
• Not have an assessment score that indicates a high risk for violence