Bill > AB2342

This bill, concerning parole in California, aims to strengthen victim rights and public safety by modifying existing laws related to parole hearings and decisions. It clarifies that when determining parole suitability, the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) must give substantial weight to the nature and circumstances of the commitment offense, including the degree of violence and victim vulnerability. The bill also introduces new reporting requirements for the BPH, mandating an annual report to the Legislature detailing commissioner voting records and prosecutor appearance at hearings, and requires all parole, en banc, and rescission hearings to be recorded and transcribed indefinitely, with en banc reviews no longer permitted to be held in closed sessions. Furthermore, it alters the process for inmates to request an earlier parole hearing, increasing the waiting period between requests from three to five years and requiring a higher burden of proof for inmates to demonstrate a "material and substantial change in circumstances" or new information. For individuals convicted of certain serious offenses, such as murder of a child or specific sexual offenses against minors, the bill mandates that their next parole hearing be scheduled at least five years after a denial, and advancing such a hearing will require clear and convincing evidence of a significant change. These provisions are contingent on the approval of a related constitutional amendment by voters in November 2026.

Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2342