A participant in the Butte County Male Community Reentry Program (MCRP), a program designed to facilitate the reintegration of eligible individuals, managed to escape California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials Saturday evening. The search is now on for Justin Martinez, a minimum-security inmate.
At precisely 7:02 p.m., CDCR officials were alerted to a tampering incident involving Martinez’s GPS device. Acting swiftly, staff conducted an emergency headcount, only to discover Martinez’s absence. CDCR’s Office of Correctional Safety Agents were immediately dispatched to track down the fugitive, while local law enforcement was promptly notified.
Described as a 41-year-old standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 395 pounds, Martinez has brown eyes and black hair, last seen wearing a black shirt, gray shorts, and athletic shoes.
Martinez had been admitted to the re-entry program just over a year ago this July following his conviction for two counts of evading law enforcement while driving recklessly. Serving a sentence of three years and 8 months, he had less than two years remaining before his anticipated release.
Authorities are urging you to remain vigilant and report any sightings of Martinez or provide information regarding his whereabouts to law enforcement agencies. In case of an emergency, individuals are advised to call 9-1-1.
The department says that while unauthorized walk-offs from correctional programs are rare, locating and apprehending Martinez swiftly is crucial. CDCR emphasizes that, since 1977, 99 percent of individuals who have left correctional facilities or programs without permission have been successfully apprehended.
