Full Notification

Attached is a press release from our Calaveras County District Attorney Barbara M. Yook regarding public comment opportunity to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR) early release regulations. Calaveras County Sheriff Rick DiBasilio joins District Attorney Barbara M. Yook in opposing the new CDCR regulations echoing the rhetoric by stating, “Our community must come first and we will continue to voice opposition to regulations that lead to increased recidivism due to early releases.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
(San Andreas, CA) – April 6, 2022- The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR) is seeking to enact permanent regulations which would result in the early release of thousands of violent offenders and “nonviolent second strikers.”  Calaveras County District Attorney Barbara M. Yook is opposing the new regulations and is announcing the opportunity for the public to weigh in as well through the public comment period, which ends April 13, 2022.
 
Under the proposed regulations, CDCR seeks to reduce the sentences of prisoners by increasing the percentage of credits awarded on those sentences.  Violent offenders could have their credits increased from 20% to 33%, which means they would only serve 66% of their sentences.  Nonviolent second strikers could see an increase from 50% to 66%, which means they would be released after serving only 33% of their sentences.  “With the proposed regulations, an offender sentenced to 10 years in prison could be released after having served only 3 years and 4 months,” said District Attorney Barbara M. Yook.  “This does not protect victims or the public at large,” she added. Calaveras County Sheriff Rick DiBasilio joins District Attorney Barbara Yook in opposing the new regulations echoing the rhetoric by stating, “Our community must come first and we will continue to voice opposition to regulations that lead to increased recidivism due to early releases.”
 
CDCR has had these regulations in place for 10 months as “emergency” measures.  Before the regulations can be made permanent, CDCR is required to hold a public comment period and to consider and address all comments made.  “We have already seen a negative impact with the “emergency” regulations.  I am opposing the effort to make these regulations permanent due to the increased risk to public safety,” Yook said.  Under CDCR’s regulations, being a felon in possession of a firearm is considered “non-violent”, regardless of how violent the offender’s past is.  During 2021, while these emergency regulations were in place, Calaveras County experienced a 25% increase over the 2015-2020 average in charges filed against felons being in possession of a firearm.  The first quarter of 2022 is even higher and on track to result in over a 50% increase with these early release regulations in place. 
 
The public comment period ends on April 13, 2022.  Any person may submit written comments about the proposed regulations by e-mail to [email protected] or by mail to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Regulation and Policy Management Branch (RPMB), P.O. Box 942883, Sacramento, CA 94283-0001.  All written comments must include the rule number, NCR 22-03, OAL Notice File No. Z2022-0215-10.
 
There will also be a teleconference public hearing on April 14, 2022 beginning at 10:00 am, in which members of the public may make comments.  To participate by phone, call 1-877-411-9748 (TTY/TDD: Dial 711) and enter participant code 6032676 when prompted. 
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