PASADENA - Area police officials are part of a chorus of state law enforcement officers opposed to the governor's plan for the early release of 27,000 prison inmates.

The plan, which the state Senate passed Thursday, would also set up a commission to examine new sentencing guidelines - also opposed by law enforcement.

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, whose department staffs and runs the county's jail system, accused lawmakers of shunting their financial responsibilities onto local communities.

"Based on the number of early releases, and the recidivism rate in the state, most of them will probably end up in county jails," he said. "We're bursting at the seams already."

Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian, who is president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said nearly 40 county jails in the state are at population limits or over capacity and should not be taking on additional inmates.

Melekian said the state chiefs' association had added suggestions for the legislation but most of the recommendations were not included.

He said one of the association's big concerns is with the sentencing commission, which would make rulings on potential changes to sentencing laws.

The recommended changes would take effect automatically unless they were rejected by the governor and a majority vote in the Legislature, a formulation that Melekian said would strip the Legislature of its authority.

"Legislative approval should be required for any changes in the sentencing structure," said Melekian.