The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ( CDCR ) will release up to 8,000 more inmates.

The action , announced Friday , is in additional to release of 10,000 others since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The currently incarcerated individuals could be eligible for release by the end of August. The measures are being taken to protect the prison population and staff from COVID-19 , and to allow state prisons to maximize available space to implement physical distancing , isolation , and quarantine efforts. All individuals will be tested for COVID-19 within seven days of release and CDCR is working with local authorities and agencies to leverage state and federal resources for housing to help meet the needs of individuals reentering communities. CDCR is also making victim notifications. 

In order to be eligible for the early release program inmates must have 365 days or less to serve on their sentence , are not currently serving time for domestic violence or a violent crime , have no current or prior sentences that require them to register as a sex offender , and not have an assessment indicating a high risk for violence.