Investigation sought on using violent inmates to fight fires
Source: Associated Press
Investigation sought on using violent inmates to fight fires
Don Thompson, Associated Press
Published 2:36 am, Thursday, October 15, 2015
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A state lawmaker and a union president are calling for investigations after California's corrections department revealed that about 1,400 of the state's 3,700 inmate firefighters have previous convictions for violent offenses.
Corrections officials had said for years that only nonviolent prisoners were allowed in the program.
State Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber wants the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to now disclose the criminal histories and any acts of violence of inmates working in the unfenced, lightly guarded camps that house the firefighters.
"Thousands and thousands of people are affected and are vulnerable because of the continued criminal behavior of these inmates that CDCR knowingly put out in our communities," he said. He called for an oversight hearing by the Senate budget committee, where he is ranking Republican.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Investigation-sought-on-using-violent-inmates-to-6571771.php
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