Violent criminals being released early in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Inmates convicted of violent crimes are among those being freed early from California jails to save money, despite lawmakers' promises that they would exclude most dangerous prisoners and sex offenders.

An Associated Press review of inmate data shows that some of the freed criminals were convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, battery, domestic violence, and attacks on children and the elderly.

The early release program specifically forbids authorities from freeing those convicted of about 150 crimes such as rape and murder. But any offense that is not specifically listed qualifies for release, and individual counties can decide who gets out.

"This bill not only theoretically will result in a public safety catastrophe, it already has," said Democratic Assemb. Ted Lieu, an opponent of the system who is running for attorney general. He wants the list of excluded crimes expanded.

The release of violent offenders does not technically violate the law, but it runs counter to lawmakers' promises when the plan was adopted. Legislators approved the early release program last year as a way to cut costs and reduce crowding in state prisons and county jails.

At the time, the Democratic Assembly speaker, Karen Bass, and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger described the measure as a reform that would protect public safety while saving as much as $1 billion. Both denied that it even contained early release provisions.

But when the law took effect in January, the release of hundreds of inmates from local jails drew a swift backlash, especially after an inmate freed was arrested within a day on suspicion of attempting to rape a female counselor.

The Sacramento County inmate had been jailed for a probation violation, but his underlying offense was assault with a deadly weapon.

During the first few weeks of the program, more than 1,800 jail inmates were released statewide before they had served their full sentences, according to the California State Sheriffs' Association. Hundreds more have been freed since then, although the association has stopped keeping track.

California is not the only state to seek savings in early releases. New or expanded release programs began last year in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.