SB94 Passes Senate Appropriations Committee by 5-2 Vote

SB94, introduced by State Senator Dave Cortese (District 15) and co-sponsored by the Felony Murder Elimination Project (along with other members of the DropLWOP coalition including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, California Coalition for Women Prisoners, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, Families United to End Life Without Parole, and The Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition) passed the California Senate Appropriations Committee with a 5-2 vote.

SB94 would provide for judicial review of individuals serving life without parole for offenses committed before June 5, 1990, and who have served at least 25 years of their sentence. (note - SB94 was amended 5/18 & 5/23 to 1. Remove death penalty sentences and 2. increase years served to 25 from the previous 20). Courts will review evidence of mitigating factors or reduced risk of violence consistent with changes in California law enacted in intervening years. In these cases, judges will have the discretion to leave the sentence unchanged or to resentence the person to a lesser sentence.

SB 94 now heads to the California Senate floor for a vote. The date of this vote is yet to be scheduled, but as soon as we find out, we'll let you know.

Stay tuned for actions you can take to advocate for the passage of his long overdue effort to reform and review sentencing discrepancies attached to Life Without Parole sentences.