Governor Brown will not appeal a September court ruling.
California is in the midst of a wave of criminal justice reform — and has become a national leader in moving to right the wrongs of the past. The latest reform comes as Governor Jerry Brown has decided to not appeal a September court ruling that upheld Proposition 57, the voter initiative that weakened California’s Three Strikes Law. As a result, as many as 4,000 inmates currently serving a life sentence under the Three Strikes Rule may seek parole.
In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 57, an initiative that — among other things — allowed inmates convicted of non-violent crimes serving life sentences to be eligible for early parole consideration. In September 2018, a California appeals court upheld the Proposition, finding that the voters who approved the measure intended for these inmates — all of whom are serving indeterminate sentences — to be eligible for parole.
According to an experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney, Proposition 57 not only attempted to address the injustices of the Three Strikes Rule, but it sought to solve mass incarceration. California’s aggressive law led to costly prison overcrowding that was so extreme that it was found by the United States Supreme Court to be unconstitutional. The rule often led to unjust results, with some defendants imprisoned for life for relatively minor offenses. Studies showed that over time, the Three Strikes Rule did nothing to reduce the rate of serious crime in the state.
Critics of the Three Strikes Rule have argued that the majority of people incarcerated under the Three Strikes Rule have not committed serious or violent offenses. Instead, they are largely mentally ill, disproportionately African American, and on the whole, at a low risk to commit another crime if released, according to the state’s own data.
Because Governor Brown has chosen to not challenge the court’s ruling on the validity of Proposition 57, the law will now take effect. This will enable some 4,000 inmates in the California state prison system to seek parole for the first time, provided that they have not been convicted of violent offenses.
Parole is a form of supervised release that is available for inmates in California state prison who have been convicted of felony crimes. The parole process can be complex, particularly in this situation, where the law is new and there is no precedent for how these types of cases should be handled. A skilled Orange County criminal defense attorney can assist anyone currently serving an indeterminate sentence with an application for early parole. This includes helping anyone who is granted parole understanding the terms of release.
The Chambers Law Firm is devoted to helping clients achieve justice. If you have been charged with a crime, or convicted of a crime and are seeking early parole, we can help. Contact us at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation with an Orange County criminal defense attorney.
