A look inside the Fresno County Jail, as inmates wait for early release

Tools

By Preston Phillips

Story Published: Sep 4, 2008 at 11:31 PM EST

Story Updated: Sep 5, 2008 at 2:42 PM EST

Fresno County inmates were on pins and needles Thursday, each one, hoping they'd be one of the several hundred scheduled for early release.

Multimedia

Watch The Video

Since Tuesday, Sheriff Margaret Mims has signed off on the early release of 38 inmates, with the intention of releasing at least 800 more.

Some pods have already been emptied, mattresses removed from the bunks.

But there is still quite a ways to go.

Fresno county supervisor Henry Perea says by Tuesday, the board should have the funds the sheriff needs, to keep her from having to shut down any floors, release any more inmates or lay off any correctional officers.

Undersheriff Scott Jones says, while the $2,800,000 would be nice, it still wouldn't be enough to keep the sheriff from moving forward with her plan.

Something Perea says would be completely unnecessary, given that Mims already has a budget, sufficient to deal with the to deal with the current issue at hand.

On Friday, Mayor Alan Autry has scheduled to hold a special closed session meeting with the Fresno City Council to discuss placing an injunction on the sheriff and or county to keep them from releasing any more inmates.

For Preston Phillips’ full story, click on the video link above.

View Oldest Comments First

Sunday, Sep 28 at 11:19 PM a concerned soon to be mother wrote ...

i think that the mayor should let out the inmates that arent in there for serious crimes or who are not sentenced yet. i think that the city and the county should relase as many inmates and not just come up with the money that they say they didnt have in the first place. my husband is in jail and awaiting trial and his baby is on the way. he will most likely not get to to see his child born because of the jail system and he dont have a serioes crime either..... somthing to think about.

Saturday, Sep 13 at 2:27 PM SCOTT wrote ...

PLEASE JUST DON'T LET OUT THE SEX OFFENDERS.

Friday, Sep 12 at 9:35 AM Bubba wrote ...

go back to being on t.v not mayor sorry

Thursday, Sep 11 at 3:23 PM economy women wrote ...

this is how I feel, as long as the ones they release are not murders, rapists...release them....also for bubba mr. heat of the night-how would you feel if it was someone you cared about cant be released????there is no way to come up with that about of money???that is a shame immates are praying they can get out soon to be with there families...other cities release non-violent crimes immates....some do not need to be there, so bubba release them.you was so fair on the heat of the night.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 3:53 AM Richard Aguilar wrote ...

I don't understand how it is the business of the Mayor to ask the city council to the injunction when it is the county that has more authority over the city. The city is within the County, that's the problem, the city keeps butting in where it don't need to be. I agree with Sheriff Mims in releasing inmates, some don't even need to be there, the ones that should be there are those with serious crimes should remain there. Hell the mayor can't even run the city right, he should focus on that 1st.

Add a comment

Most Popular

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.