CSAC Bulletin Article

CDCR Announces Plan to Further Protect Staff and Inmates from the Spread of COVID-19 in State Prisons

April 2, 2020

On March 31, CDCR amplified actions to protect staff and inmates at the state’s institutions by implementing additional measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The measures aim to increase both capacity and physical space at the state’s prisons, which will allow the department to increase physical distancing and assist it with isolation and quarantine efforts for suspected or positive COVID-19 cases.

On the heels of the announcement last week that the state will cease intake from county jails, the state also outlined the new plan in a court filing to the federal three judge panel. The plan calls for the early release of specified determinately sentenced offenders that are already within 60 days of their parole date. The specific population excludes offenders currently serving a sentence for a violent offense, sex offense, or domestic violence offense. It is expected that the plan will include approximately 3,500 offenders—split between releases to state parole and county Post Release Community Supervision.

The plan also includes making more use of the state’s private and public contract correctional facilities. These new measures build on many others already taken to reduce the risk the exposure of COVID-19 for both staff and inmates. For additional information and updates on CDCR’s COVID-19 efforts, please visit here.

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