Sheriff warns of inmate releases, layoffs from budget crunch

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By Betsy Lambert, Eyewitness News

Summary

More than 550 minimum security inmates could be released from Lerdo Jail if the county doesn't fork over $4 million. Forty-five detention deputies would reportedly still be laid off if the sheriff's office gets the requested money.

Story Created: Jun 29, 2009 at 11:32 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jun 30, 2009 at 9:19 AM PDT

Sheriff warns of inmate releases, layoffs from budget crunch

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood addresses the Kern County Board of Supervisors in this photo from a county broadcast of the June 23 supervisors meeting.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- More than 550 minimum security inmates could be released from Lerdo Jail if the county doesn't fork over $4 million.

According to an internal jail document obtained by Eyewitness News, Sheriff Donny Youngblood is telling Kern County Supervisors that the facility could close and as many as 93 detention deputies could be laid off as budget-cutting casualties.

"You're going to sight and release these guys and have no where to house them," said one deputy who spoke Monday on condition of anonymity. "You're going to put them back on the street, and they will continue to do crime."

Forty-five detention deputies would reportedly still be laid off if the sheriff's office gets the requested money. The deputy who spoke with Eyewitness News said he was told he's on the chopping block.

The deputy said some of the inmates who would be released were convicted of rape and assault, while most were convicted of theft, burglary and misdemeanor drug offenses.

The funding request is slated to be decided at the June 30 supervisors meeting.