Two Inmates Escape from California Reentry Program

California officials are on the hunt for two inmates who managed to escape from the Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program in San Diego, as reported by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The escapees, Diana Sanchez, aged 31, and Janelle Rice, aged 32, were last seen leaving the facility around 10 p.m. on a Saturday. The alarm bells rang when authorities received alerts indicating that the inmates had messed with their ankle monitors.

In response, the facility's staff quickly conducted an emergency count, confirming that Sanchez and Rice were indeed missing. Within minutes, agents from the CDCR's Office of Correctional Safety were deployed to search for the escaped inmates, and local law enforcement agencies were alerted to the situation.

Sanchez, a 5 feet 7 inches tall, 230-pound woman with brown eyes and brown hair, had been serving a five-year sentence for burglary and identity theft since March, originating from Los Angeles County. On the other hand, Rice, standing at 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 206 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair, had arrived at the facility from San Bernardino County in February to serve a four-year sentence for robbery and burglary.

Authorities are urging anyone who spots Sanchez and Rice or possesses information about their whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.

It's worth noting that since 1977, nearly 99% of individuals who left adult institutions, camps, or community-based programs without permission have been apprehended and returned to custody, according to the CDCR.

The Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program offers eligible women sentenced to state prison the opportunity to serve their sentences in a community reentry facility instead of behind bars. The program aims to provide a wide range of rehabilitative services, including support for alcohol and drug recovery, employment, education, housing, family reunification, and social support.