SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A bill that would give people serving life without parole a second chance at freedom was brought back in the California Assembly Monday after a year of inactivity.
Senate Bill 94, authored by State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), calls for a second look at Californians serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The bill would allow people convicted of life sentences a chance to lessen their time behind bars if they have been imprisoned since June 1990, or for 25 years. Cortese says this is a chance for those convicted so long ago to have a second chance at life.
“They can only get released as a consequence of the bill. If they petition, they get a hearing, they succeed at the hearing, they then get a court hearing, parole board hearing and the governor’s signature on top of all that. The bill won’t automatically release and it’s a misnomer that’s out there,” said Cortese.
It would not apply to those who were convicted of killing law enforcement officials or people who have killed three or more people. Republican lawmakers believe it will only make our communities more dangerous.
“I have absolutely no sympathy at all for these people. Just the fact that they’ve spent 25 years in prison, they should spend the rest of their life in prison. These are the worst criminals and they should not be let out early,” said Asm. Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin).
Crime Victims United, an Auburn-based organization, also opposes this bill, saying it will continue to fight it from ever becoming law.
Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) requested it be removed from the inactive list.
Cortese says he believes amendments to the bill will be finished by this week. He hopes it can be heard on the Assembly floor within the next two weeks. If it passes the Assembly, it’ll head to the governor’s desk for him to sign into law.