New coronavirus rules will result in inmates leaving Fresno County Jail early, sheriff says

California’s Judicial Council has released an expanded list of no-bail, early-release offenses — including elder abuse and hit and run causing death — that the state’s jails must comply with by Monday, according to Fresno County Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti.

The order likely means that many people will walk out of jail by 5 p.m. Monday due to concerns that inmates are in an environment that leaves them exposed to the highly contagious coronavirus.

The exact number of inmates who will be cut loose Monday was not available Friday.

Other no-bail offenses listed in the Emergency Bail Schedule include auto theft, felony assault likely to causes great bodily injury and felony evading of a police officer, according to Botti.

He added that the bail schedule does not take into account an individual’s prior offenses or strikes under the state’s Three Strikes sentencing law.

Efforts to obtain comment from the Judicial Council for comment were not successful.

According to Botti, offenses not eligible for no-bail release include violent felonies under Penal Cole 1192.7, domestic violence, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and sex offenses.

This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 10:17 AM.