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Early jail releases surge in California as response to overcrowding
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Aug 18, 2014
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Early jail releases surge in California as response to overcrowding
"Early releases" are part of an effort to shift low-level offenders from state prisons to local jails, and to release the least dangerous offenders to make more room for more serious criminals.
Inmates in a recreation yard at the Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy, Calif. California is trying to address court-ordered reductions in overcrowding with a plan to shift thousands of those convicted of "non-serious" crimes to county jails.
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"Early releases" are part of an effort to shift low-level offenders from state prisons to local jails, and to release the least dangerous offenders to make more room for more serious criminals.

Thousands of prisoners are let out early each month in California as part of an effort to shift low-level offenders from state prisons to local jails, and to release the least dangerous offenders to make more room for more serious criminals. A Los Angeles Times investigation has found that the policy has had some unintended consequences. 

LA Times reporter Paige St. John talked with Take Two about the investigation.