Set Them Free: California To Parole Inmates Who Committed Serious Crimes as Juveniles

As the State of California runs low on money and prison conditions worsen due to overpopulation, Governor Jerry Brown has come to the conclusion that releasing inmates who committed serious crimes as juveniles is the only workable solution.

Because everyone deserves a second chance, especially violent criminals who were incarcerated as children…

California’s criminal justice system will begin to recognize that kids can’t always make the right decisions when their brains are not fully developed.

Governor Brown signed into law a measure that gives young offenders a second chance if they committed serious crimes under the age of 18 and were prosecuted as adults.

Depending on their sentences, they could be eligible for a parole hearing during their 15th, 20th or 25th year of incarceration.

“If they reflect on what they did, if they feel remorse, if they take advantage of educational opportunities, they have a chance to live on the outside in the world again,” said state Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley).

It’s a victory for the ACLU and Human Rights Watch.

Perhaps a better approach would be to abolish laws that incarcerate non-violent offenders such as those people who have been handed lengthy prison terms for white-collar crimes like not paying their taxes or being caught with small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

But, then again, it’s California, so it makes much more sense to put violent offenders back on the streets.