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 four years ago. Former Gov. Jerry Brown, who championed the 2014 initiative to reduce prison populations and costs by speeding up chances for parole, has repeatedly said he and other proponents never intended for it to cover sex offenders.
Under California law, violent offenses include crimes like rape, sodomy and continuous sexual abuse of a child. But the definition leaves out many other offenses, like pimping, incest, indecent exposure and possessing child pornography. The ruling could allow parole consideration for about 4,400 inmates, half of whom are now serving time for sex crimes, while the other half are in prison for some other offense like burglary or drugs but were previously convicted of a sex crime.
The decision does not necessarily mean sex offenders will be paroled; parole boards can still choose not to allow an early release.
