Contra Costa County Posting Detained Immigrants' Release Dates Online
RICHMOND (AP) -- The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office has begun publishing inmates' release dates online in what critics say appears to be an attempt to avoid a California sanctuary law.
The East Bay Times reported Thursday that the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office started posting the information on its website in the middle of February.
A state law that went into effect in January restricts law enforcement from providing federal immigration authorities with the release dates of people in jail. It was part of the state's effort to protect immigrants in the country illegally.
The Trump administration has sued the state to block it.
The law does have an exception, however, if the release date is publicly available.
Contra Costa Assistant Sheriff Matt Schuler said the new release date practice was in response to a request from organizations that assist with inmate reentry.
© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
