Fresno Inmates may Get Out Early

Thursday, September 28, 2006

September 28, 2006 -- County supervisors say they've been warned. With the jail at 95 percent capacity an early release of prisoners from the Fresno County Jail could come as soon as this week.

Some Fresno County prisoners could be getting a "get out of jail free card" by the end of this week. Sheriff Richard Pierce says the jail could reach full capacity by Friday. That could mean some low level prisoners will go home early.

Crackdowns on gang violence and additional enforcement by Fresno police have caused a spike in arrests and now the county is trying to deal with it.

We may now be at the tipping point where we're going to have to be releasing the lower level criminals in our jail back into the community before it s time for them to go back in, that s a concern.

Supervisor Henry Perea wants an emergency meeting of the board of supervisors to find a way to prevent inmates from being released early.

Sheriff Richard Pierce is expected to announce his plans to deal with jail over crowding at a news conference today at 2:00 pm.

Solving the overcrowding problem at the jail is becoming a key issue in race for Fresno County Sheriff. It has even started some name calling.

Candidate Margaret Mims said, "My vow is not to release one." However, Candidate Cal Minor responded with, "When someone says that, I believe they re being untruthful to the voters. They know they can't do it."

Cal Minor is accusing Margaret Mims of pandering to voters with her vow to prevent early prisoner releases. He says the solutions that Mims suggests are impossible under state laws.

But our ABC 30 political analyst, Tony Capozzi, says Mims may have turned the tide in the election by picking up the endorsement of Fresno Mayor Alan Autry. "Mayor Autry, love him or hate him, is well liked by the community."

Political insiders say the endorsement of outgoing Sherriff Richard Pierce would also provide a big boost for either candidate. But Pierce has refused to say which candidate he supports.

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