|
|
| California budget cuts slash monitoring of gang parolees |
| By sacbee.com |
| Published: 06/22/2011 |
|
While state prison officials plan to move tens of thousands of inmates to county jails in a highly publicized budget move, they began another money-saving effort last month: removing GPS tracking devices from hundreds of paroled gang members. Corrections officials had been monitoring about 950 gang members statewide through GPS, but budget cuts are forcing them to cut the number to 400 by July 1, said Oscar Hidalgo, spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. "We have to make some difficult choices," Hidalgo said. "Obviously, during better fiscal times, we would work to increase those numbers once again." The reductions, which are saving the state $6 million, include the removal of tracking devices from 40 of the 60 gang members monitored in Sacramento County. The cuts come at a particularly difficult time for local law enforcement agencies, especially the Sacramento Police Department, which is disbanding its gang unit next week. "We're not going to have any gang detectives in a week," Officer Laura Peck said, adding that the 14-member unit is being shifted to other duties because of impending layoffs. "Hopefully, the community is watching and the community can call us if they see any type of suspicious activity," she said. Sacramento County sheriff's officials said they also were concerned by the move, which reduces their ability to tie gang members to crime scenes. "Obviously, it's kind of frightening," said Sgt. Kris Palmer, head of the department's gang suppression unit. "It's frightening to all of us, to citizens in the community." Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think