(May 24) This summer a contingent of twelve county inmates will be allowed to serve on a fire crew alongside the county’s firefighters.
The degree of fire hazard is anticipated to be particularly high in the summer of 2013. Simultaneously, the sheriff’s department is being tasked to provide inmate space to accommodate the influx of state prisoners being released by the state of California in keeping with federal mandates to alleviate prison overcrowding as well as state legislation, including Assembly Bill 109 that went into effect in October 2011, sending those convicted of certain non-serious, non-violent, non-sex related crimes to serve their sentences in county jails.
The board of supervisors this week endorsed a memorandum of understanding between the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to provide for operation and management of a joint county 12-inmate fire crew program which began on May 22, 2013 and will run through May 22, 2014.
According to a joint report from county fire chief Mark Hartwig and county sheriff John McMahon, “The total cost for operation and management of the joint county 12-inmate fire crew program is estimated to be $43,999.03 for the term beginning May 22, 2013 through May 22, 2014 and will be funded through the San Bernardino County Sheriff Inmate Service Units, Inmate Welfare Fund. The Inmate Welfare Fund will transfer $28,748.47 for equipment and tools to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s fiscal year 2012-13 operating budget. The remaining funds of $15,250.56 will be managed by the Inmate Welfare Fund for the purpose of inmate global positioning satellite monitoring. Any additional equipment and tools needed to operate the joint county 12-inmate fire crew program will be requested through the San Bernardino County Sheriff Inmate Service Units Inmate Welfare Committee process. The Memorandum of Understanding is in response to the implementation of AB 109 and resulting inmate realignment to county jails. The joint County 12-inmate fire crew program is intended to enhance the rehabilitation opportunities of program inmates while providing enhanced public safety and improve county government operations for the period commencing May 22, 2013 through May 22, 2014.”