Inmate early release program equals more work and less overtime for analysts
3:42 PM - February 16, 2010
Governor Schwarzenegger recently signed into law changes that
could result in the early release of about 6,500 low-risk felons
over the next year. Prior to release, correctional case records
analysts working in the California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation (CDCR) must review the records of more than 20,000
inmates to determine if they meet the new early release
eligibility criteria to recalculate release dates.
“Early release of inmates is highly controversial,” said Karen
DeVoll, an analyst at the Sierra Conservation Center in
Jamestown. “The state can’t afford to have mistakes, and can’t
afford lawsuits if the wrong person is released … we don’t want
harm to come to any individual because a high-risk felon was
released in error.”
Despite a dramatic increase in the workload of the analysts,
opportunities for overtime have been reduced or revoked.
Additionally, CDCR has not provided sufficient training on how to
interpret and apply the early release eligibility criteria.
“If we make an error due to poor training and an increase in
workload, I’m afraid we’ll be the ones disciplined and hung out
to dry,” DeVoll said.
Local 1000 is in the process of scheduling dates for a meet and
confer with CDCR regarding changes in the penal code on the
workload for the correctional case records analysts.
Local 1000 Unit 1 representatives at this table are correctional
case records analysts Karen DeVoll in Jamestown, Ramona Mullins
in Rancho Cordova, and Rhonda Roduner in Chowchilla.
Approximately 750 correctional case records analysts are in
Bargaining Unit 1.