SLO County Sheriff's Office Annual Report 2015

CUSTODY
THE CUSTODY
DIVISION SAW
ANOTHER SHIFT
this year with our inmate population due
to Proposition 47, also known by its ballot
title: “Criminal Sentences/Misdemeanor
Penalties/Initiative Statute.” The
proposition was a referendum passed by
voters in the state of California on
November 4, 2014. The measure was
also referred to by its supporters as the
Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. It
redefined some nonviolent offenses as
misdemeanors, rather than felonies.
The measure’s effects were to convert
many nonviolent offenses, such as drug
and property offenses, from felonies to
misdemeanors. These offenses include
shoplifting, writing bad checks, and drug
possession. The measure also required
that money saved as a result of the
measure would be spent on school
truancy and dropout prevention, victim
services, mental health and drug abuse
treatment, and other programs designed
to keep offenders out of prison and jail.
The measure included exceptions for
offenses involving more than $950 and
criminals with records including violence
or sex offenses. The measure both
affects future convictions and allows for
people currently incarcerated to petition
for re-sentencing.
Many of the arrestees this past year were
released on their own recognizance
because of the reduction of a felony to a
misdemeanor. We saw an immediate
drop in our Average Daily Population
(ADP) as a result of Proposition 47. Over
time, we are anticipating the ADP will
increase as subjects are left in the
community to continue with criminal
activity until they are brought into
custody on more serious crimes or
increased addictions.
At this point, it is still too early to make a
judgement on how this legislation will
make an impact in the long-term. It is
also recognized that during the same
period when Proposition 47 was enacted,
the courts started an early disposition
court, the judges started using split
sentencing, and the District Attorney’s
Office started a Misdemeanor Diversion
Program. While all of these programs
have had impacts on the jail population, it
is difficult to sort out what impacts each
of these programs has had individually.
However, we recognize the cumulative
impact. From January 1, 2015 to
December 2, 2015, the total number of
bookings was: 10,175, and 10,180
releases. The average daily population
was 542.
The Custody Division saw several
promotions and newly hired employees
this year, as well as many staff members
who were recognized for their
outstanding dedication and
professionalism to the Sheriff’s Office.
Every few months, the Sheriff’s Office
holds General Assembly Ceremonies to
recognize these people. Sheriff
Parkinson also presents awards to
employees for incidents such as: lifesaving
awards, Medal of Valor and
exemplary service.
WOMEN’S JAIL EXPANSION
The new Women’s Jail is scheduled to
open in June 2016. The Women’s Jail
Expansion project consists of 46,000
square feet of new construction to house
and provide program space for 198
women inmates, on 1.5 acres within an
LEAD THE WAY ANNUAL REPORT 2015
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