The Fresno County's Sheriff massive budget cuts means she needs to resort to drastic measures, which includes layoffs and inmate releases.
Sheriff Margaret Mims faces a $3.9 million deficit for her department but other law enforcement and community leaders, including Fresno's Mayor and Police Chief, are criticizing the proposals.
At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisor's meeting, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims proposed laying off 69 correctional officers, which means 2 to 3 floors of the jail, will be closed and more than 500 felony inmates will be released from jail early.
Members of SEIU, the union that represents local correctional officers, say the Sheriff's plan could have serious consequences.
Correctional Officer Robert Capps said, “We feel that releasing these felony inmates puts the community’s safety in jeopardy.” This is also a concern Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer and other city representatives have expressed. Chief Dyer said, “To release them early subjects our citizenry to increased crime.” Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin said, “Obviously we're very, very concerned about the early release of inmates.”
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims says the county is facing a huge budget deficit and has to find a solution but some say layoffs and early releases are not the answer.
Robert Capps said, “We are all sadly reminded that due to the last overcrowding releases, a murder was committed in the city of Kerman, involving one of those felony inmates released.
The Sheriff's Department defends the cuts, saying they will help avoid having to layoff Sheriff Deputies that patrol the streets. Sheriff Mims said, “We only have just a little over two hundred Deputy Sheriffs countywide.”
Correctional Officer Robert Capps questions if this strategy makes sense. Capps said, “You can have as many Deputies on the streets as you want but when they arrest somebody where are they going to take them? If they're just getting processed right out the front door…”
SEIU says they will fight these layoffs and they actually have suggestions on how the county could save money, including closing the county's crime lab. They say the Sheriff's Department could use the state's crime lab for free and save an estimated one million dollars a year.
