Los Angeles sheriff releasing inmates, urging fewer arrests to help combat coronavirus – NBC News, NBC News
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The Los Angeles County sheriff has reduced the jail population by more than people and is asking officers to cite and release offenders when possible to protect inmates from the coronavirus.
As of Monday morning, the inmate population had been reduced from 25, to 30, since the end of February, in part by granting early release to those with less than (days on their sentences.)
“Our population within the jail is a vulnerable population just by virtue of who they are and where they’re located,” Sheriff Alex Villanuev a said Monday at a news conference. “So, we’re protecting that population from potential exposure.”
Arrests have dropped from around a day to around a day, the sheriff said Monday. The aggregate bond amount for people to be booked also went up from $ , to $ , 11, with those under that amount being cited, he said.
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There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus within the jail, but nine inmates are in isolation housing at a correctional treatment center, while inmates are in quarantine at the Men’s Central Jail and five are at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, he said.
Staff at the correctional treatment center and the Medical Observation Specialty Housing unit are also checking the temperatures, looking for fevers, of anyone entering, Villanueva said .
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