California Parole Board Grants State’s First Medical Parole
On Wednesday, the Board of Parole Hearings for the first time granted medical parole to an inmate under a state law signed last year by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) that allows medically incapacitated inmates who no longer pose a safety threat to be released early from prison. The law is designed to save the state millions of dollars in guarding and providing care to incapacitated inmates. The parole board has 120 days to finalize its decision. In related news, a Field Poll released on Thursday found that 74% of voters support modifying a 1994 "three-strikes" law to allow for more discretion when sentencing a criminal for a third felony. The state's three-strikes law mandates a 25 year-to-life sentence for third felony convictions.
- "Inmate May Be First To Be Set Free Under 'Medical Parole'" (Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 6/16).
- "'Three-Strikes' Inmate Wins State's First Medical Parole" (Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 6/16).
- "Field Poll: California Voters Favor Revamping 'Three-Strikes' Law" (Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 6/16).