These sex offenders were indicted for different crimes that range from child molestation to public lewdness. 

The California state law indicates that everyone was supposed to render service for at least six months in prison for the violation of the terms of their parole by eluding the monitoring of law enforcement.

Now, they are free from imprisonment and a locally elected prosecutor is furious, while several criminal justice reform supporters are accusing him of unsuitably fueling public fear. 

In what was considered an uncommon public statement released last week, Orange County District Attorney, Todd Spitzer, sent the community a warning saying about seven sex offenders considered "high risk" were released from prison before they served their full sentences.

The district attorney criticized a local county commissioner too, who had the release orders approved. While the public warning of Spitzer did not specify the reason for the seven sex offenders' release, a spokesperson for the attorney said, "Their understanding from the court is that, Joseph Dane," the commissioner gave the early releases a go signal.

The said approval of the release was over the growing concerns crowded prisons could function as incubators for the spread of the fatal COVID-19.

Addressing Concern over Spread of COVID-19 in Overcrowded Jails

The conflict in how the inmates are handled in Southern California is the most recent instance of a national argument on the spread of COVID-19 among the prisoners.

According to a report, prisons remain among the most powerful settings for sickness and fatality for both the prisoners and those who are guarding them.

Relatively, dealing with issues about conditions in jails, Don Barnes, the Orange County Sheriff, doubted and disputed the idea the county jails might not be safe.

He said in a statement, they have accountably created the capacity required in jail to accommodate sex offenders, as well as the other criminals who are considered dangerous.

The county sheriff also added, he opposes initiatives excusing criminal behavior, not to mention jeopardizing the community's safety and Spitzer echoed this sentiment in the said public warning he issued.

Proper Steps in Place

Writing Barnes has assured Spitzer that proper steps which include masks, quarantine, and social distancing of new prisoners are in place.

However, despite the guarantees from the district attorney and the sheriff when it comes to the detention facilities' safety, the Orange County prisons like correctional institutions across the nation, have perceived an uptick in the number of cases of the COVID-19.

Present figures in the county specify more than 250 prisoners "have tested positive for COVID-19," up over 80 cases since the start of the month. In addition, an Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said, five prison employees have tested positive too, for the virus.

Essentially, in his public statement, the district attorney warned that the seven defendants remain dangerous to the public because of their previous criminal background. 

The newly-released "sex offenders" had been indicted too, of tampering with, or unsuccessful properly charging GPS devices which the parole officials monitored. 

These kinds of sex offenders who are considered "high risk," Spitzer said, are the most dangerous criminals and most probable to commit criminal acts again especially that they are doing all the things they can to get rid of the parole officers' detection.

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