The Los Angeles County SheriffAlex Villanueva released just over 600 prisoners who had less than a month to complete their sentences, due to concerns about the covid-19 pandemic.
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“We set them free on word”, Sheriff Villanueva told Univision Noticias. “Most of them committed minor crimes.”
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The offenses committed were in the range of non-violence: drug possession, theft or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Villanueva told Univision Noticias that no inmate has tested positive for covid-19 and that the release of the inmates was, in anticipation of any outbreak of the virus that could occur.
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“We needed to have free space for any contingency,” he said. “The total number of inmates exceeds the official capacity of inmates and, if they had not, it would be difficult to control the spread, should it ever occur.”
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Villanueva stated that although there has been no positive to covid-19, 35 inmates are under quarantine: nine at the Correctional Treatment Center; 21 in the Central Men’s Prison and five in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility.
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The sheriff indicated that they have paid special attention to the most vulnerable inmates, those with diabetes, a chronic disease or those who are more likely to get sick.
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“They are precautionary and compassionate measures,” he said. “We are trying to prevent anyone from falling ill.”
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Also, he expressed that the THE D it has hundreds of doctors and nurses to respond quickly to any eventuality.
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“We have people to serve almost an entire hospital,” he said.
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The sheriff’s department is also asking county cities to contract services to retain detainees for up to 48 hours, up to the time of the charges reading and coordinate to find a suitable alternative if a suspect is exhibiting symptoms of covid-19.
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At the moment, people being taken to county jails are being scanned.
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On the streets of Los Angeles and under the bridges, a team of sheriffs is contacting indigent people to refer them to county shelters to avoid covid-19 infection.
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