SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) released the following statement in response to Governor Newsom's expansion plan to release additional convicted felons from four separate correctional facilities. According to a recent article published in The San Francisco Chronicle, the Governor's early release plan could free at least 50,000 convicted felons which is nearly three times the original figure as reported in the media.

On March 4, Governor Newsom ordered the mandated shutdown of California. Under the guise of the crisis, the Governor has granted the early release of 18,000 convicted felons. He now has ordered the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to expand the early release program to include four additional correctional facilities.

Convicted felons serving their sentences for horrific crimes such as assault with a deadly weapon, throwing acid, vehicular manslaughter, armed robbery, and arson are among many of those on Newsom's lucky release list.

"Once again Governor Newsom and his liberal administration choose convicted felons over victims' families and law-abiding Californians. Governor Newsom has already released over ten thousand prisoners early and California's reentry system is already having trouble finding housing, food and other re-entry services for the released prisoners. 

"Instead of focusing on releasing criminals from prison early and overwhelming communities with thousands of unhoused and dangerous felons, Governor Newsom should focus on securing the energy grid, stopping these rolling black-outs, and protecting our law-abiding citizens and families," said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove.

Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove represents California's 16th Senate District which encompasses large portions of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino counties and including the cities of Bakersfield, Barstow, California City, Exeter, Frazier Mountain, Joshua Tree, Mojave, Needles, Ridgecrest, Rosamond, Taft, Tehachapi, Twentynine Palms, Tulare, Visalia, Yucca Valley and portions of the Kern River Valley.