SANTA BARBARA - Rules that tally inmate time off for good behavior changed recently.  Inmates now get one-half day off instead of one-third day off for each day of good behavior.  22 inmates were released from jail, and 49 others were released from other programs including Electronic Monitoring and the Sheriff Work Alternative Program (SWAP).

The changes in the law were made in order to reduce jail overcrowding and apply to all inmates including State prison systems.

Authorities noted that 128 inmates will be released by the end of the month.  The new laws are not for violent felons or registered sex offenders.

“These early releases hamper our ability to provide for the public’s safety,” said Sheriff Bill Brown. “These convicted criminals, who should be serving their sentences in jail, will now be back on the streets with the potential to reoffend. The early releases undermine confidence in the criminal justice system by sending the wrong message to the criminal element.”

According to Sheriff spokesman Drew Sugars, "at the beginning of the day there were a total of 980 inmates in the county jail system and an additional 200 inmates taking part in the Alternative Sentencing program."