I often jog the route of Eighth Street/Clark Road going north to Bucklin Park and back south toward the jail in El Centro. I jog this route because I live in the homes there. And it’s usually late evening or early morning, and when I jog late evening I often jog past inmates that have just been released. You can always tell by the plastic bag of personal belongings, the horrid smell of body odor or their jail-issued sandals they are wearing. My question is, can’t these people being released into the community be taken to a bus station where they can be picked up, or somewhere remote other than just being released into neighborhoods where kids are riding bikes, people are jogging and walking dogs with family members? It just doesn’t seem safe. — Offended Runner, El Centro
Believe us, we have shared this same concern, and heard it shared multiple times in the past. But we don’t get the feeling it is a concern shared by the Sheriff’s Office for various reasons.
After speaking with Chief Deputy George Moreno, head of the Sheriff’s Office operations division, we can appreciate the thinking.
Not saying we totally agree, but they are valid points.
Anyone released through the front door is either done so through a court order or on their own recognizance. In both cases, they are considered low-risk offenders, Moreno said.
At the same time, those with more problematic issues are usually given transport to hospitals or behavioral health, he said.
Moreno continued that the men and women are released during the hours when either family would pick them up after posting bail or when public transit services are in operation, and there is a bus stop out near the Sheriff’s Office. He added there are also phones so released inmates can call cabs.
Many choose to hoof it, though.
Funding is such for Imperial County and the Sheriff’s Office itself that providing transportation would be too costly and not even up for consideration right now.
That said, Moreno said he’s never received reports of released inmates causing problems in the neighborhoods as they walk from the jail. When they do, it’s usually them acting up outside the jail and they are then remanded to custody, he said.
“We don’t release anyone that is a danger to society,” Moreno said.
Believe us, we have shared this same concern, and heard it shared multiple times in the past. But we don’t get the feeling it is a concern shared by the Sheriff’s Office for various reasons.
After speaking with Chief Deputy George Moreno, head of the Sheriff’s Office operations division, we can appreciate the thinking.
Not saying we totally agree, but they are valid points.
Anyone released through the front door is either done so through a court order or on their own recognizance. In both cases, they are considered low-risk offenders, Moreno said.
At the same time, those with more problematic issues are usually given transport to hospitals or behavioral health, he said.
Moreno continued that the men and women are released during the hours when either family would pick them up after posting bail or when public transit services are in operation, and there is a bus stop out near the Sheriff’s Office. He added there are also phones so released inmates can call cabs.
Many choose to hoof it, though.
Funding is such for Imperial County and the Sheriff’s Office itself that providing transportation would be too costly and not even up for consideration right now.
That said, Moreno said he’s never received reports of released inmates causing problems in the neighborhoods as they walk from the jail. When they do, it’s usually them acting up outside the jail and they are then remanded to custody, he said.
“We don’t release anyone that is a danger to society,” Moreno said.
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