Calif. prisons return 656 parolees to active supervision 3 months after monitoring stopped

Calif. returns 656 parolees to active supervision

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California prison officials are changing how they apply a new law that allows some parolees to go unmonitored after their release from prison.

Corrections Secretary Matthew Cate told The Associated Press on Wednesday that upgrades to a computerized risk-assessment program found that some parolees had committed more crimes than officials previously believed.

The revelation means that 656 recent parolees who were not being monitored will be returned to active supervision. Corrections officials now believe those parolees are at high risk of committing new crimes.

The AP disclosed last week that some of those released since the state’s non-revocable parole program began in January had been convicted of violent or threatening crimes.