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17
Nov 2011
Prisoner with violent record headed to L.A. area hospital

State officials have decided to release a prisoner with a history of violent crimes to a local hospital over the objections of Los Angeles County supervisors.

The prisoner, who has not been named by county officials, is scheduled to be sent to Olive View-UCLA Medical Center on Friday under the state's controversial realignment policy, which shifts the care of some prisoners and parolees to county care from state supervision.

The prisoner has been convicted of rape, is criminally insane and has a history of violent crimes, according to Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. Staff at Olive View are not prepared to care for violent criminals, he said.

Under the state plan, prisoners whose most recent conviction is for a nonviolent, nonsexual crime can be released to local facilities. But some have previous, more serious convictions.

Earlier this week, county supervisors voted to ask state officials to reconsider the prisoner's release.

Representatives of Gov. Jerry Brown referred questions to officials with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, who could not be reached.

County officials are exploring the possibility of sending the prisoner to a maximum-security hospital.

"If this effort fails, the county will pursue vigorous legal action to protect our citizens," said Antonovich, who has repeatedly criticized state officials for approving the plan to shift prisoners and parolees to local custody.

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