Concerned about crowded conditions that may exacerbate a coronavirus crisis in the jail system, Sacramento County Sheriff’s officials began releasing non-violent inmates Tuesday night from its jails.
The releases so far amount only to a handful of inmates and only apply to individuals within 30 days of their scheduled release date, said Sgt. Tess Deterding, a spokeswoman for Sheriff Scott Jones.
“This is not like a mass exodus,” Deterding said Wednesday. “It’s very small and meticulous. They are evaluating each person’s mental health and whether they have the recourse to function once they are let out the door, especially with what’s going on right now.”
