San Francisco inmates to choose night or morning release

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Sheriff’s Department will let inmates up for release decide whether they want to leave jail at night or wait until the morning in an attempt to ensure their safety.

Sheriff Vicki Hennessy tells the San Francisco Examiner that by the end of October, county jail inmates will be able to waive their right to release for up to 16 hours under a new policy she is implementing.

The policy change comes amid concern over the July death of Jessica St. Louis. St. Louis died of an apparent drug overdose shortly after the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department released her from jail overnight.

Public defender Brian Pearlman says releasing inmates at night, especially those who are homeless, results in them reoffending because they have nowhere to go.

___

Information from: The San Francisco Examiner, http://www.sfexaminer.com