Thanks to those that attended the meeting last month we had a big turnout. We will begin re-organization of the local association soon. Below is some important information on how AB109 has and will directly impact you business in San Bernardino County.

On September 20, 2011 the San Bernardino County Supervisor Janice Rutherford hosted a forum to give information on, "The Effects of Realignment On Our County", in Rancho Cucamonga. Gloria Mitchell and I attended a the last minute.

There were mostly law enforcement officers present. The panel had Sheriff Rod Hoop, District Attorney Mike Ramos, Terri Mc Donald (Director Adult Institutions, CDCR), Chief Probation Micelle Scray, and Allan Rawland (Dir. of Behavior Heath for S.B.County).

The county's Realignment Plan states "To house new classification of offenders in local jail without disruption to jail operations or release of those normally held in the jail population, local custody and supervision efforts must include alternative custody options for the county jails......."

The Sheriff said this will be accomplished by citing non-violent offenders in the street. This will be offenses with bail under $400,000.00. Specific charges that would be excluded were not mentioned. He also indicated that this process has already begun. The county will have 1300 additional beds in 2013 by adding a new Adelanto jail. The county will also be adding a Re-Entry facility in Apple Valley with 500 beds. This is being done to house the 300 inmate a month that would have normally gone to the State Department of Corrections but will now stay in the county.

There will be another forum in about six to update the community on the process. At that time we should be ready go in mass to communicate to the panel and community how street booking/citing effect Public Safety and increases Failure to Appear rates in court.

If anyone has direct contact with the Presiding Judge or The D.A. or Supervising D.A. for San Bernardino County we should talk.