SACRAMENTO, Calif — A bill that would have granted people serving life sentences in California prisons a second chance at freedom will not be moving forward this year.
Senate Bill 94, by State Senator Dave Cortese, would have allowed certain people serving life without parole (LWOP) an opportunity to petition to have their sentences changed.
The new petition would have only been available for people serving LWOP for a crime committed before June 5, 1990, and served at least 25 years in custody.
The bill was introduced in the last legislative session but was placed on the inactive file to allow time for more negotiations. It was brought back earlier this year, but could not garner enough votes for proposed amendments.
“The bill, like those it would’ve helped, did not get its day in court. The California model of rehabilitation often works, but we must do better. We must continue the conversation and revisit racist, inconsistent and harmful sentencing that has disproportionately impacted Californians for over twenty years, and will continue to wreak havoc until fixed,” said Cortese in a statement.
SB 94 would have allowed an individual to petition the court for their sentencing to be reexamined. For a sentence to be changed, it would have needed approval from a judge, the State Parole board and the governor.
The proposed amendments blocked in the Assembly Thursday would have narrowed the scope of eligible individuals. It would also have changed the number of petition attempts allowed from three to one per individual.
People convicted of killing three or more people or convicted of killing a law enforcement official would not have been eligible to petition under SB 94.
“The proposed amendments narrowed SB 94 substantially, and demonstrated our constant attention to the voices of concern while keeping intact its original intent – judicial equity. SB 94 would not let a single person out of prison, it is not a risk to public safety,” Cortese said.
The bill faced opposition from Republican lawmakers who felt the bill would make communities less safe.
"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," Assemblymember Joe Patterson told ABC10 earlier this year.
Cortese plans on reintroducing SB 94 next legislative session, if he is re-elected in November.
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