To California Democrats a prison sentence of life without parole for murder actually means 25 years. In the future that could also be cut down to 10-15 years.
“After being shelved for nearly a year, California lawmakers in the Assembly dusted off a controversial, proposed law that will allow some convicted felons serving life without parole to petition for early release.
The proposal would create a process for those offenders to have their prison sentences reduced if they’ve been behind bars for at least 25 years or since 1990, including those convicted of murder. Serial killers and those who have killed police officers would not be eligible.”
Unfortunately, the Democrats could not legislate the dead to come back to life after 25 years. Now you know who represents the criminals, including the murders.
California lawmakers resurrect controversial bill allowing early release for some felons serving life without parole
Ashley Zavala, KCRA, 8/12/24 https://www.kcra.com/article/california-bill-early-release-felons-serving-life-resurrected/61858649#
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
After being shelved for nearly a year, California lawmakers in the Assembly dusted off a controversial, proposed law that will allow some convicted felons serving life without parole to petition for early release.
The proposal would create a process for those offenders to have their prison sentences reduced if they’ve been behind bars for at least 25 years or since 1990, including those convicted of murder. Serial killers and those who have killed police officers would not be eligible.
SB 94 was removed from the Assembly’s “inactive file” on Monday, meaning it’s back in circulation through the state’s lawmaking process. The action was taken without discussion on the Assembly floor at the request of the bill’s author, State Senator Dave Cortese, D-San Jose.
The bill had nearly made it to the finish line last legislative session, but Democrats placed it on the inactive file when it became eligible for a vote on the Assembly floor.
“The Senator didn’t have the votes last year,” said Nick Miller, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. “Now, the Senator has decided to bring the bill back. But we are not aware anything changed.”
Cortese told KCRA 3 changes are coming to the bill that he says he hopes to have on the governor’s desk by the end of the month. Those changes will be made public Thursday, Cortese said.
“SB 94 creates a tough four-tiered process, and judges will have complete discretion to either leave the sentence unchanged or to refer a case to the parole board and Governor for further review,” Cortese said in a statement. “Most petitions for hearing are expected to be denied. This bill is a conservative approach to those rare cases that exist which qualify for and merit review. I am hopeful with amendments made to the bill we will have the votes to send it to the Governor this month.”
“It’s a slap in the face,” said Lauren Pettigrew, whose brother was killed in 2007 by three people who were sentenced to life without parole. While those offenders would not be eligible for the process in this proposal, Pettigrew noted the life without parole sentence is meant to give victims like her some closure.
“I’d imagine many victims won’t even be able to face them again and go back to court it’s too traumatizing,” she said.
The leader of Crime Victims United quickly crafted a letter Monday afternoon, urging lawmakers to vote no on the bill.
“We believe that this bill is not only unjust but also undermines the rule of law and the justice system in our country,” wrote Harriet Salarno, the chair of CVU. “It would allow individuals who committed heinous crimes to potentially escape justice and receive reduced sentences, despite the severity of their offenses.”
Supporters of the measure have noted the bill would not guarantee early release but would provide a process for those serving sentences of life without parole who were convicted decades ago, before the state’s criminal justice reforms were enacted.
“There are people languishing in state prisons that if they were in court today, would receive a more just sentence,” wrote an official with the Ella Baker Center in support of the bill in an analysis of it last year.
It’s not clear when exactly the Assembly will vote on the bill.
Politicians need to understand the murdering someone else’s child or family member is no different than having one of their own murdered. Life in Prison means life, not 10 years. Read “Personal Opinions of One Common Man”.