California has been experiencing an increase in the release or parole of prisoners serving life sentences over the years and there are two reasons accredited for this! Hit the jump for more.
California has seen a trend since 2008, when it comes to the parole/release of long term prisoners within the states’ penitentiary. California is one four states that gives it governor complete and ultimate control over parole’s decisions, “… and modern governors have freely exercised their authority to reverse grants of parole to convicted murderers.”
“Because of two Supreme Court decisions in 2008, record numbers of life-term inmates are being granted parole after undergoing intensive hearings in which they are found to be suitable for parole.”
“Since those rulings, there have been 2,462 grants of parole to life-term inmates. Over the previous 30 years combined, there had been 1,821. Last year alone, 670 such inmates were granted parole, a record.Even with those climbing numbers of paroles, however, the process remains very selective. About 85 percent of parole hearings still end in denial.”
Prior to the 2008 rulings, a 2002 court’s decision, made it so that a judge may review the case of a life-term inmate to “make certain they were based on “some evidence.” Now inmates cases an be reviewed based on their current state of “dangerousness”.
For more on the ruling and stories from ex-inmates, check out HP
