Will further protect incarcerated people, staff from spread of COVID-19
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) today announced the implementation of a community supervision program to eligible inmates in order to amplify actions to protect staff and inmates at the state’s prisons from the spread of COVID-19.
Specifically, CDCR’s community supervision plan will be for eligible inmates who have 180 days or less to serve on their sentences. They must not currently be serving time for domestic violence, or a violent or serious crime as defined by law. They must not be required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code 290.
The incarcerated person must also have housing plans identified before participating in the program. They will remain under close supervision for the duration of their sentence, up to 180 days. Once an offender meets their regularly scheduled release date in the community, they will either remain on state parole supervision, transfer to county post-release community supervision, or discharge from their sentence, depending on their post-release requirements. To ensure public safety, those under community supervision may be remanded back to state prison for any reason to serve the remainder of their sentence.
CDCR will implement the community supervision plan on July 1, 2020.
CDCR has reduced the incarcerated population by more than 8,000 since mid-March. This was accomplished through the suspension of county jail intake, as well as the expedited parole of approximately 3,500 incarcerated persons in April,
The department offers COVID-19 testing to incarcerated people within seven days of their anticipated release. If someone tests positive, CDCR will work with state and local public health and law enforcement officials to find housing where the incarcerated person can be safely isolated and monitored. The department will provide five reusable cloth barrier masks upon release. Staff will take appropriate precautionary measures during transportation.
The department is meeting all victim notification requirement.
COVID-19 response
CDCR and CCHCS take the health and safety of all those who live and work in state prisons very seriously. We will continue to work diligently to address the COVID-19 pandemic with transparency.
(Learn more about our COVID-19 response efforts).
(Visit the official website for California’s COVID-19 response.)