Gridley impacted by early inmate release

Gridley has been impacted by inmates being released early because of the coronavirus pandemic.

To release prisoners back into our communities -- took local law enforcement by surprise.

Action news now reporter kristian lopez show us what this means for publiv safety.

Rick libby/lives in butte co.: i just think it's ridiculous they are releasing people from prison and putting them in a small community like this.

Across the country jails are releasing inmates to help stop the spread of the coronavirus behind bars.

Here at home at least one town has been impacted.

Chief rodney harr/gridley police: approximately a week ago we received information that one of our local hotels was releasing inmates under an early release program called project hope.

Kristian stand up: (havent shot this yet) gridley police chief rodney harr says they are supposed to be notified of any early prison releases*ahea* of time.

Chief harr: that gives us time to prepare and notify any victims in the area that their perpetrator is being released to give them time to prepare.

But he says in this case - that did not happen.

Kristian: since you were not notified what happened?

Chief harr: we went ahead and conducted phone calls with california department parole office that started a chain reaction that has been good for local agencies and local area population.

He says there were a total of three inmates released in gridley - they came from a california state prison.

Chief harr: they are no longer here, once the hotel learned what the project was about they pulled their contract.

Inmates have a right to go back to areas they resided.

With that said, butte county will get released inmates.

With everything that has occurred this will be done properly and correctly.

Viola newton/lives in gridley: i don't like it.

It's upsetting because we have a lot of people here and children.

Kristian: what do you tell people that are concerned about this?

Chief harr: we will do what we need to do to make notifications and make this the safest community.

Those individuals will be supervised by butte county probation officer.

They will be under supervision we will know where they are at and what they are doing.

Anchor tag chief harr did not specify where the three inmates were taken but says one resides in yuba-sutter county.

More than