BY JOE PATTERSON SPECIAL TO THE SACRAMENTO BEE
A bill before the California Legislature would allow murderous felons — those serving life without parole — to petition for early release if they have been in prison for at least 25 years. As a proud representative in the Sacramento region, I am deeply alarmed by this extreme example of dangerous legislation.
Senate Bill 94, authored by Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, not only endangers the public but also degrades essential principles of justice.
Granting early release to individuals sentenced to life without parole is terrible policy making. These sentences are meant to reflect the severity of a person’s crimes, the permanent harm they inflicted and the danger they continue to pose. Statistics from the California Department of Justice clearly show that age does not cure crime. In fact, over the last 10 years, homicide arrestees over 40 have increased by nearly 30%.
This bill ignores these facts and threatens to release some of the worst criminals imaginable: an individual who killed off-road racer Mickey Thompson and his wife over losing a court battle, an individual who lit a house on fire with his wife and children inside and two brothers who shot their parents over sixteen times with a shotgun. Some of these dangerous felons took life sentences in prison as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. These criminals should not be released back into society.
SB 94 is being pushed forward this year despite the significant public opposition it faced last year when it was placed on what is known as the “inactive file.” But on August 13, Democrats began hearing the measure in the Senate. This is a clear sign of Sacramento legislators’ disconnect from the values and concerns of ordinary Californians. This bill is the latest attack on public safety by politicians.
I’m committed to standing against this kind of extremism that is out of touch with anyone working or living outside a one-block radius around the state’s capitol. Concerns about SB 94 are not just about one bill, it’s part of a broader pattern of radical policies that are advanced without regard for their impact on public safety and justice.
You may have heard or read about SB 94, but there are dozens of dangerous proposals introduced every year that don’t get the same hype or coverage. Whatever happened to the notion of accountability?
Opposition to SB 94 is rooted in a commitment to protecting our community and upholding the integrity of our justice system. California should oppose policies that strip victims of closure, rip safety away from our communities and degrade the principles that justice stands on. We must be vigilant against attempts to undermine our justice system and stand firm in our commitment to fair and just sentencing to protect our communities.
Let’s continue to fight against policies that jeopardize justice while supporting common-sense public safety policies that protect victims and hold criminals accountable. Our communities deserve a justice system that reflects our shared values and priorities — not one driven by radical shifts that disregard the seriousness of crime.