San Juan Capistrano Supports Sheriff In Keeping Inmates Jailed

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — The San Juan Capistrano City Council is supporting Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes in his reluctance to release half of Orange County's inmate population. Though a coronavirus outbreak has left numerous inmates sickened, and at least one inmate has died of COVID-19 complications, Barnes suggests that releasing them would put violent crime offenders back on the streets.

"My department and I will fight this ruling to protect the integrity of our criminal justice system, and most importantly, protect the safety of Orange County residents," Barnes wrote on Dec. 16.

Newport Beach Mayor Brad Avery filed an amicus curiae brief to the appellate court to support Barnes's position. Now multiple cities are following suit.

"We know this a difficult time for everyone, given the state of the pandemic,” Avery said. “However, Sheriff Barnes has taken significant action to keep inmates safe. Releasing potentially dangerous criminals into the community is not the answer.”

Multiple cities have followed Newport Beach's lead.

Support for Barnes' position includes Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. On Dec. 15, Spitzer wrote, "Nothing, not even a pandemic, suspends the rule of law. The solution is simple: don’t break the law, and you won’t end up in jail. If the Sheriff appeals this ruling - and I hope he does - the District Attorney’s Office will file an amicus brief with our data which demonstrates just how dangerous this decision is."

Overnight, Laguna Beach voted 4-0-1 to agree with Newport Beach's brief, with councilmember George Weiss abstaining, to support the sheriff.

Also overnight, the Lake Forest city council voted to support the sheriff, and on Tuesday, the city of Rancho Santa Margarita was meeting to declare their support, as well.

The brief will be filed on Wednesday, according to Newport Beach city attorney Aaron Harp. Other cities support the brief, including Cypress, Dana Point, Garden Grove, Mission Viejo, Orange, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda.