Senator: Computer Glitch Freed 450 High-Risk Prison Inmates
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A new report released on Wednesday shows hundreds of California prison inmates have been mistakenly set free.
KNX 1070's Mike Landa reports the news comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that requires the state cut its prison population to improve health care for those who remain behind bars.
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An estimated 1,500 inmates were placed on unsupervised parole as a cost-cutting measure in 2010, but as many as 450 of them are dangerous, high-risk prisoners.
Long Beach State Senator Ted Lu says a computer error may have endangered public safety.
"Because these freed felons know that there's no parole supervision, there's no way that they can be sent back to prison, that affects their behavior and makes them more likely to commit future crimes," said Lu.
Officials with the State Department of Corrections say the report by the state inspector general focuses on a program that is scheduled to be eliminated and on alleged errors that have been addressed.
