Fresno County, city reach inmate release deal

The Associated Press
1:07 p.m. July 18, 2009

FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno County officials and the city of Fresno appear close to settling a lawsuit over the early release of inmates from the county jail.

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a proposal that would require Sheriff Margaret Mims to create an electronic system that would inform the city when inmates are released early because of overcrowding.

The proposal has already been approved by the Fresno City Council.

It stems from a lawsuit filed by the city in September alleging Mims violated the law when she released 72 inmates early. A federal decree to prevent overcrowding allows the sheriff to release inmates when the jail is at capacity.

But the city said there were enough beds for the released inmates.
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Information from: The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com

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