Davis Vanguard - In Response to the Hardin Court Decision
California Supreme Court decision ruled young adults ages 18-26 convicted of murder can be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole
A commentary piece "In Response to the Hardin Court Decision," authored by Barbara Chavez, appeared in the Davis Vanguard. Chavez served two decades on an LWOP sentence and is a member of DROP LWOP Coalition and a 2024 Outside Fellow with Ella Baker Center. Excerpts from the commentary are below.
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As I read Bob Egelko’s coverage of the recent CA Supreme Court Hardin decision in the SF Chronicle, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own painful journey through the criminal justice system. It was at the age of 25 that I, too, found myself facing the grim reality of a draconian sentence. A single mother of color, I was caught up in a robbery as the designated “look-out.” The weight of that sentence felt unbearable, but fate intervened, and I was fortunate to have my sentence commuted after enduring 20 long years.
What deeply troubles me is that the CA Supreme Court’s decision seems to defy the national trend towards abolishing LWOP for youth. In January 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Court took a monumental step by ruling that LWOP violates their state constitution for anyone under the age of 21. Furthermore, in 2023, the United Nations urged the U.S. to impose a moratorium on all LWOP sentences. It is disheartening to witness California going against this tide of progress.
In the face of this setback, our coalition must redouble its efforts. With over 5,200 individuals currently serving LWOP sentences in California, we cannot afford to lose sight of our mission to advocate for a second chance through the parole process. The call for reform echoes not just in courtrooms but in the shared experiences of those who have lived through the darkness of unjust sentences.
Let us stand united, drawing strength from our collective stories, and continue the fight for a more compassionate and equitable justice system.
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You can read the full commentary piece, "In Response to the Hardin Court Decision," at the Davis Vanguard, an organization that provides the Davis Community with incisive in-depth coverage of local government on a wide variety of issues.
