20-Year Prison Term Ends, But Red Tape Delays Man’s Release from Santa Clara County
The NAACP in San Jose is set to hold a news conference on Monday, advocating for the immediate release of Carlos Harris, a man currently held in Santa Clara County Jail.
Last week, a judge granted Harris a five-year sentence reduction, allowing for his release after serving 20 years for robbery and attempted murder. Despite the judge’s decision, Harris remains in custody days after his expected release date.
In a phone call with KTVU last week, Harris expressed his confusion about the situation. “I don’t know what to do,” he said. “I don’t know when I’m getting out.”
His cousin, Aisha Hampton, voiced her frustration, stating, “We are just really feeling like he’s being illegally detained at this time. He should’ve been home last Thursday.”
According to a county official, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) must process Harris’ release before he can be freed from custody. The CDCR is reportedly requesting the original court order from the judge, which Harris’ family believes could delay his release for days or longer.
The Santa Clara County sheriff informed KTVU on Monday that Harris remains in custody due to a hold placed by the CDCR. “By 11:15 a.m. Friday, the Sheriff’s Office learned that the CDCR must process Mr. Harris for release, as he is technically in CDCR custody at the Santa Clara County Main Jail. By 11:30 a.m., it was determined that without the CDCR dropping its hold, the Sheriff’s Office could not release him.”
A spokesperson from the Sheriff’s Office indicated that they have requested a judge to amend the court order and bypass the CDCR to expedite Harris’ release.
“Despite our proactive efforts to speed up the process, all parties were informed by Judge Williams during last Thursday’s hearing that delays due to CDCR processing were inevitable, but he insisted Mr. Harris remain housed at the county jail during this period rather than being returned to CDCR,” the sheriff’s department stated.
The sheriff noted that without a new court order or permitted release from the CDCR, Harris must remain in custody.
