Sentence reform for child felons
The United States is the only nation in the world in which a child can be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. California has more than 200 inmates who were sentenced to remain behind bars forever for crimes they committed before they became adults. Under a bill that passed today on the Senate floor, they would get a chance to petition the court to have their sentences converted to 25-years-to-life. That wouldn't guarantee parole or eventual release; it would simply give them a chance at a hearing.
The Times editorialized in favor of SB 399, which now moves to the Assembly. It's authored by Leland Yee, D-San Francisco. Read our editorial here, and a follow-up blogpost here. Here is a support blog and site.
This is a worthy bill and deserves to pass and be signed into law. Support is not based on naive or romantic notions about innocent children wrongly locked up for life. This is not a movie. The dozens of people the bill would affect were convicted of committing serious and often brutal felonies. Yes, many were following the lead of criminal adults, and many others were too scarred or traumatized by violent families or neighborhoods to fully grasp the horror of their actions. But punishment makes sense.
Life without parole, however, does not -- at least, not in every case. Under this bill, many, perhaps most, of the California inmates sentenced for crimes committed in their youth would remain in prison for life and will eventually die there. But for some who can demonstrate that as adults they have grown, repented and reformed, they may be able to look forward to the possibility of a portion of their adulthood outside prison bars.
Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press
The public needs to understand that inmates with determinant sentences are being released every day. Some of them also go out an commit murder. Corrections is a risk business. No one will ever be able to accurately predict future behavior. But CDCR does try to assess risk to the best of its ability. And with all the budget crises evident in California today, we do need to reduce the inmate population and get people back into society as successfully as possible. Automatic denials, both by the board and by the Governor, are not helpful to anyone. Lifers have the lowest recidivism rate of any inmate groups (estimates range from 1 to 20% v. 40-70% rates of recidivism for other inmate groups). Those who deserve to be released should be released.
Elaina Jannell, Ph.D.
AFSCME Local 2620
Posted by: Elaina Jannell | June 03, 2009 at 07:17 PM
This reform is a good idea that shows compassion and common sense by our society.
Another good idea is to stop the unjustified, almost automatic parole denials for adults who served their sentences for serious crimes. Some states are actually evaluating individual inmates and denying parole to those they consider dangerous. But, unlike California, they parole those who are not, or no longer are, dangerous.
Perhaps the Oakland policemen who were killed by a paroled man would still be alive, and thousands of former offenders would be working and contributing to society rather than costing us $49,000 each every year.
Evaluating individuals and releasing those who deserve it would save salvageable lives, keep us safer, and save lots of money.
Posted by: Pray4Peace | June 03, 2009 at 12:02 PM