LA Sheriff might free 4,000 inmates early

The head of the nation's largest sheriff's department says he might have to release nearly 4,000 inmates early and eliminate about 600 deputy and professional positions because of budget cuts.

Sheriff Lee Baca says he hasn't finalized plans, but he's looking at closing two of the county's 10 jail facilities; the old central jail, which houses about 2,300 inmates; and part of another facility in Castaic in the north of the county that houses about 1,500 inmates. Violent offenders from the closed jails would be housed in other facilities.

Closing those facilities would eliminate positions for about 400 of the department's 10,000 deputies and another 200 or so civilian jobs would be lost too. The job cuts would come primarily through a hiring freeze, according to the Sheriff.

Of the inmates that would be released early, Sheriff Baca said he'd first look to nonviolent offenders who are awaiting trial.

Baca was forced to take similar action during an unforeseen downturn from 2002-2005, when his department had to cope with $180 million in cuts.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement for 40 cities, dozens of unincorporated communities and 4 million residents. The Department also runs the county's jail system, which has a population of 20,000 and includes 700 people accused of murder awaiting trial.

D. Brian Blackwell