In response to increasing court pressure and the growing number
of COVID-19 cases in state prisons, this week the California
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) will begin a
new early release process. Similar to the last round of early
releases, this new program will include several “public safety
screens” which exclude offenders:
Currently serving a sentence for a serious offense
Currently serving a sentence for a violent offense
Currently serving a sentence for a domestic violence offense
With a risk assessment score of 5 or above
Required to register as a sex offender per Penal Code 290
Based on these screens, it is expected that the majority of
individuals will be released under the supervision of county
probation departments through Post Release Community Supervision
(PRCS). While the last round of early releases applied to
offenders within 60 days of their normal release date, this new
program will be extended to those within 180 days.
Unlike the prior early releases, the new program will require all
offenders to have a verified housing plan and require a COVID-19
test prior to early release. If an offender does not have a
verified housing plan, they will not be released prior to their
normal release date. Likewise, if an offender refuses a COVID-19
test, they will not be released prior to their normal release
date.
If an offender tests positive for COVID-19, the receiving county
probation department and public health will be notified. Positive
individuals requiring quarantine, or individuals requiring
isolation, will be transported by CDCR to a “Project Hope” room.
Project Hope is a state-level equivalent of Project Roomkey in
which the Office of Emergency Services and Department of General
Services have secured hotel/motel contracts for individuals. The
state will cover the costs of the Project Hope program, but most
individuals will be under the supervision of county probation
departments.
CDCR is working with Chief Probation Officers to provide
additional information about the population being released. Based
on past practice, it is expected that the state will provide
county probation departments with additional funding for the
increase of the PRCS population caused by these early releases.
As that decision and funding level is finalized, we will provide
further updates.
