Editorial: Easing prison crowding because of coronavirus makes sense. But what happens next?

Chronicle Editorial Board May 3, 2020 Updated: May 3, 2020 4 a.m.

Excerpts:

The state prison system is about halfway along on freeing 3,500 inmates. Counties including San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo and Marin have reduced jail populations, releasing inmates judged to be low risks for offense or near the end of their terms. In San Francisco’s case, for example, the sheriff, district attorney and public defender are all on the same page in dropping the numbers.

There’s a natural concern that the pandemic is in effect subverting the legal system intended to mete out sentences or hold suspects. But keeping thousands of prisoners behind bars is an inhumane danger.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Easing-prison-crowding-due-to-COVID-19-15235680.php