40 District Attorneys Challenge Early Prison Releases

More than three dozen California district attorneys announced a petition last week challenging opportunities for early release for some 76,000 state prison inmates.

New regulations passed on April 30 by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation render some inmates eligible for good behavior credits that would shorten their sentences by one-third. Of the 76,000 eligible inmates, more than 63,000 were convicted of violent crimes, according to CBS Sacramento. Nearly 20,000 are serving life sentences with the possibility of parole.

The new regulations were adopted quickly and caught many off guard.

“The goal is to increase incentives for the incarcerated population to practice good behavior and follow the rules while serving their time, and participate in rehabilitative and educational programs, which will lead to safer prisons," CDCR spokeswoman Dana Simas said in a statement.

"Additionally, these changes would help to reduce the prison population by allowing incarcerated persons to earn their way home sooner.”

Among the 40 district attorneys who have challenged the policy is Sacramento’s Anne Marie Schubert, who recently announced her candidacy for California Attorney General.