Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on March 24, 2020 ordering California Department of Corrections to release at least 3500 prisoners who have not completed their sentences in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Stanislaus County will receive approximately 50 of these early release prisoners, many who have no home and have stated their address as the Gospel Mission.

In addition to the release of prisoners at the State level, the State Judicial Council recently mandated bail for most crimes to be reduced to $0. While the most serious violent crimes are excluded from this rule, this will jeopardize public safety at a time when public health and safety is already overburdened.  The release of approximately 300 additional inmates, who are currently housed in the County Jail, will overburden the efforts undertaken by the County and Cities in supporting housing for the homeless and at-risk populations. Together, these two decisions will put at least a 25% increase in our efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

As the Mayors of Stanislaus County, we are vehemently opposed to these actions as it jeopardizes the safety of our residents. Furthermore, releasing pretrial defendants without bail is not in the best interest of public safety.

With the rise in unemployment and no facility to care for these releasees, the only safe location is the County Jail, where medical care is available. Currently, there are no cases of COVID-19 in the Stanislaus County Jail.

We urge the Judicial Council to reconsider their decision to suspend mandatory bail. This decision should be reserved for local officials. Our Sheriff can safely manage the population in the Stanislaus County Jail and this decision should not be directed by the State Judicial Council as a mandate.

We suggest providing our prison system with the resources necessary to follow the White House Coronavirus Task Force guidelines on coping with the virus, along with providing all medical treatment necessary to keep those in our state prisons and county jails safe.

CHRIS VIERRA, Mayor

City of Ceres

JERAMY YOUNG, Mayor

City of Hughson

TED BRANDVOLD, Mayor

City of Modesto

J.R. McCARTY, Mayor

DEBORAH NOVELLI, Mayor

City of Patterson

RICHARD O’BRIEN, Mayor

AMY BUBLAK, Mayor

MIKE VAN WINKLE, Mayor

City of Waterford