Roughly 50 inmates awaiting trial in San Luis Obispo County jail could soon be released under a new “Zero-Bail” rule that went into effect yesterday. The rule was handed down by the Judicial Council of California and is intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 among jail population. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson says the rule has the potential to reduce the safety and security of not only local communities and neighborhoods but across the state. Under the “Zero Bail” rule some crimes are exempt, misdemeanor and lower-level felony offenses are not, including child abuse, elder abuse.