KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Fresno Supervisors Vote To Prevent Further Early Inmate Releases

Fresno Supervisors Vote To Prevent Further Early Inmate Releases

Fresno County Supervisors voted on Tuesday to prevent the closure of more jail floors and the early release of inmates.  

Supervisors met with Sheriff Margaret Mims to discuss the issue, and listened to proposals from the Sheriff on other ways in which the department could save money.

A $3.9 million dollar budget deficit has forced Mims to prepare to lay off 69 correctional officers, and close three floors of the county jail.

Both the Correctional Officers Union and The Deputy Sheriff's Association helped to bring down that deficit by agreeing to $1 million worth of cuts, equipment allowances and furloughs.

That left Sheriff Mims with another $1.9 million to make in cuts.

During Tuesday's meeting Mims presented four different options to make up for that deficit including options such as laying-off 46 to no correctional officers, eliminating the mounted horse patrol and cut back on helicopter use.

Ultimately Supervisors voted for the third option from Mims which included 23 Correctional Officer lay-offs, opening back up the second floor of the jail (the first floor will remain closed), and removing a helicopter pilot position.

There is some good news for correctional officers; Mims says if the $1 million in concessions goes though, no correctional officers will be laid off. The Correctional Officers Union is still considering the concessions, after Sheriff Mims denied their request for a no lay-off clause in the original version.

As of this week, around 1,000 inmates had been released from the Fresno County Jail.

Stay with KMPH and KMPH.com as we continue to follow this story.