Contra Costa County sheriff will continue giving ICE some inmate release information

Sheriff David Livingston confirmed that Contra Costa County will continue its notifications to ICE regarding the release of certain inmates, despite calls from community groups and the Public Defender to stop. This practice targets individuals with serious or violent felony convictions, and the sheriff defended it as compliant with state law. Community members have expressed significant concern over the impact of these notifications on immigrant populations, with Public Defender Ellen McDonnell arguing that the law is "incredibly complex" and leads to mistakes. She urged the board to end the notifications, claiming they generate fear and trauma. Livingston reported that his office received 578 requests for notifications in 2024 and complied in 132 cases, primarily concerning a small number of individuals.

The conversation also highlighted the ambiguity surrounding "wobblers," which can be charged as either felonies or misdemeanors. Sheriff Livingston maintained that the focus should remain on protecting crime victims from offenders, including those undocumented. The issue of ICE notifications in relation to serious offenses continues to provoke debate within the community and among local officials.