The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that inmates who have been convicted of nonviolent sex crimes may be eligible for early parole consideration as part of a ballot measure that nearly two-thirds of voters approved of four years ago.
“The initiative’s language provides no indication that the voters intended to allow the (Corrections) Department to create a wholesale exclusion from parole consideration based on an inmate’s sex offense convictions when the inmate was convicted of a nonviolent felony,” wrote Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye in the unanimous decision.
The ruling could allow parole consideration for about 20,000 inmates, said Sacramento attorney Janice Bellucci, who argued the case and also is executive director of the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws.
Tereto:
You can take a break from the registry today if you spend a few months in Michigan. Michigan’s registry has been on hold since February and it will be several more months before the judge lifts his order. I don’t know why (or if) anyone has taken advantage of Michigan’s break from the registry. They should have at least spent the summer here.
What good is “freedom” without privacy, safety and a future?
The good news for California is, now they possibly get to add 20,000 names to their registry. 🙁
But, being out of prison on the registry is better than being in prison.
20,000 more names to fight for. I actually moved to California when I got off probation to get a fresh start. I returned home after 3 days of learning I had to go by Florida’s rules and be on for life in Cali so came right back home.
Well hold on… so if CA would make someone go by another state’s rules, then if someone from a state that’s only 10 yrs registry and the person finishes their time on the registry in that state and then moves to CA, CA should also adhere to that person’s original state rules and NOT force them to register all over again in CA… right?
Maestro
I do not know. I know what they told me. Also that was in 2003 when I got off probation. A lot has changed everywhere since then.
I thought once I moved there, it would be different but they told me at the time they have to go by the rules of the state that sentenced me and I figured I might as well go back to Florida where at least I knew what to expect.
What I cannot understand is how it seems one state can tell another in these matters what to do, I mean how can Florida tell California that we must register for life no matter where we go. Can’t California tell Florida to go F it’s self?
Some states have incarcerated offenders on the registry.
This is HUGE because there was a time when people including prosecutors, LE, judges and lawmakers considered all sex offenses to be violent….even simple possession of CP that did not involve production or distribution.
This shows that registrants can win if they are patient.