Bill > SB672

This bill, known as the Youth Rehabilitation and Opportunity Act, expands parole eligibility for individuals who were 25 years old or younger at the time of their controlling offense. The bill modifies existing law by allowing individuals sentenced to life without the possibility of parole to be eligible for a youth offender parole hearing during their 25th year of incarceration, with some specific exceptions. These exceptions include individuals convicted of certain serious crimes such as special circumstance murder of a peace officer, sex offenses during first-degree murder, or mass shootings at schools or places of worship. The bill requires the Board of Parole Hearings to complete all youth offender parole hearings for eligible individuals by January 1, 2028. When conducting these hearings, the board must consider factors like the diminished culpability of youth, the hallmark features of youth, and the individual's subsequent growth and maturity. The hearings must also protect victims' rights, allowing them to be notified, appear, and have their statements fully considered. The goal of the bill is to provide a meaningful opportunity for release and rehabilitation for individuals who committed crimes at a young age, recognizing that youth can demonstrate significant personal growth and transformation over time.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB672