Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Gov. Brown supports initiative to ease California parole guidelines
File: Inmates at the Mule Creek State Prison interact in a gymnasium that was modified to house prisoners Aug. 28, 2007 in Ione, California.
(
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
)
California Gov. Jerry Brown announced Wednesday that he would support an initiative that could make nonviolent felons eligible for parole earlier. The proposed initiative would also shift the decision on whether to try a juvenile as an adult from district attorneys to judges and allow the prison system to credit prisoners for good behavior, rehabilitation and education, according to a release from the governor's office.
The initiative would also allow nonviolent felons to be considered for parole once they'd completed the full sentence for their primary offense, according to the release. It's expected to be on the fall 2016 ballot, according to the release.
The release pointed out that California prisons are under a court-ordered population cap — the result of concern that overcrowding led to poor conditions in the state's prisons. The initiative would help assure a federal court would not need to order prisoners be released, according to the release.
Brown made the announcement on the initiative, called the "Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016," while surrounded by law enforcement and faith leaders.
You can read the full text of the initiative here:
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
