Politics & Government

Low-Risk Parolees To Become County's Responsibility

Provisions in the 2011-12 state budget made counties responsible for monitoring and treating individuals convicted of "non-violent, non-serious'' felonies, as well as "non-high risk sex offenses.''

Low-risk parolees from the state penal system are coming to Riverside County and it will be the county’s job to supervise them.

During Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting, Chief Probation Officer Alan Crogan told the board that by Oct. 1, 236 low-risk offenders will be returning to the county after serving their sentences and will require post-release monitoring.

As part of Governor Jerry Brown’s realignment plan to shift more state functions to localities, provisions in the 2011-12 budget made counties responsible for monitoring and treating individuals convicted of “non-violent, non-serious'' felonies, as well as “non-high risk sex offenses.''

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Shifting parole supervision to local agencies was hailed by proponents as a move toward greater efficiency.

Crogan was authorized by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday to begin positioning the agency to handle parolees who were previously supervised by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

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Crogan referred to the ex-convict population as a virtual “clone'' of the community of probationers already under the Probation Department's supervision.

According to Crogan, the state has earmarked $23 million for the county to hire additional agents and make other preparations needed to make realignment work.

“We will do a better job,'' said board Chairman Bob Buster. “I think that it's being forced on us, with budget implications, is not good. But the overall effect will be to improve some lives and reduce recidivism and be a safer county as a result.''

Supervisor John Benoit, a three-term assemblyman, expressed concerns about a lack of long-term funding commitments from the state – sentiments echoed by Supervisor Jeff Stone.

“California is notorious for setting us up and then pulling the carpet out from under us,'' he said. “I'm a little pessimistic that the state doesn't have our true financial (needs) at the top of its list.''

Crogan said the first installment of funds from Sacramento is expected by Oct. 1.

In the meantime, officials from the Probation Department, District Attorney's Office, Department of Mental Health, Sheriff's Department and other agencies will be working on establishing programs geared to re-integrating parolees into society, according to Crogan. --City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this story.


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