Family members of murder victims are speaking out against a California bill. In an effort to keep prisoners behind bars, family members attended a hearing at the State Capitol on Tuesday. One said, “There is no age limit on evil.”
The “Recall and resentencing: special circumstances” bill was introduced by Democratic Senator Dave Cortese of Santa Clara County. The bill could reduce death sentences or allow for parole after serving at least 25 years and only if the crime happened before June 1990. Those convicted of killing an officer would not be eligible if the bill passed.
Roughly 820 people would be eligible for sentencing review under the proposed bill, according to an analysis of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation data.
Supporters argue that by the time the killers are released, they’d be too old to be violent. However, many law enforcement and criminal justice officials have opposed the bill.