Nearly a year of inactivity later, the California Assembly is gearing up to vote on SB 94, legislation permitting prisoners convicted of murder and similar offenses to seek reduced sentencing, per KCRA Sacramento. Under this legislation, inmates who have spent a minimum of 25 years incarcerated would almost certainly see their sentences decreased. However, the bill excludes individuals convicted as serial or police murderers from qualifying for this early release opportunity.
The bill’s movement from the assembly’s “inactive file” on Monday went without legislative discourse. Initially ready to be voted on by the Democratic-majority state legislature a year prior, SB 94 was instead withdrawn.
Reintroducing the bill has sparked a debate among its detractors and supporters. Crime Victims United (CVU) has issued a plea to legislators for a vote against the bill. “We believe that this bill is not only unjust but also undermines the rule of law and the justice system in our country,” Harriet Salarno, CVU chair, expressed. She further highlighted the bill’s potential in allowing those guilty of grave crimes to bypass full justice and gain sentence reductions, irrespective of the gravity of their crimes.
On the other hand, proponents see fairness in the bill. Daniel Trautfield of the SB 94 Coalition advocates for the legislation, stating, “SB 94 creates a simple process that allows a person who’s been incarcerated for decades and decades to prove they’ve been rehabilitated, and can one day be successfully released to the community.” He emphasized that the bill does not assure anyone of release.
Supporters of the bill contend that it does not equate to automatic liberation but question the transparency of the petition process. They also believe that judges were historically more likely to hand down stricter penalties for murder and rape 25 years ago — a point not lost on the bill’s opponents.
In a political context, Republican presidential contender Donald Trump has criticized his Democratic adversary, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), for their leniency towards crime, especially in allowing violent offenders early release. Trump points to Harris’s fundraising efforts for the bail out of individuals involved in the unrest in Minnesota following the George Floyd protests. Notably, one beneficiary of these bail funds was later implicated in a murder case.
