Why California Should Rethink Parole for Violent Offenders

California’s lenient approach to crime continues to spark controversy, but a newly filed lawsuit by a victims’ rights organization is aiming to halt these reforms.

The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation has initiated legal action against the California Board of Parole Hearings. The lawsuit challenges regulations that could potentially ease the path to early release for some of the state’s most notorious criminals.

This pushback is warranted. Proposed changes by the parole board could see some of California’s most violent offenders, who are serving life sentences, gain their freedom sooner than expected.

According to the foundation and its supporters within law enforcement, the revised rules could allow thousands of inmates—convicted of crimes like murder, torture, and offenses against children—to become eligible for early parole.

Is there truly any rational, law-abiding Californian who desires such an outcome?

How many more victims would fall prey to these thousands of felons, should some be released? 

Among the convicts potentially eligible to walk are some serving “life without the possibility of parole,” the foundation says.

So the crimes were so egregious that a court determined the offenders should be confined for life, and the state parole board might say, in effect, “never mind, we know better than the judge and jury”?

That’s galling.

It would also be a gut punch to victims, and a broken promise to society, to free heinous criminals who –– we all were promised –– would be safely locked away for life.

The legal foundation says the parole board exceeded its authority by making such a sweeping change to the state’s legal system without either legislative or voter assent.

Good point.

State officials wouldn’t dare put this scheme before voters, and even soft-on-crime legislators might not go this far.

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So an unelected board issues regulations while the left moans about prison crowding.

But if prisons are packed to bursting, that argues for more prison space –– not the wanton release of felons who probably, based on recidivism rates, will go find new victims.

This move at its core is not about prison crowding, or the pursuit of justice, or “evidence-based policies,” as Gov. Gavin Newsom put it. 

And it’s certainly not about public safety.

The culprit, as ever, is probably ideology.

These days, it’s en vogue on the far left to treat criminals as victims. The idea: Those who harm others are somehow deserving of compassion, leniency and, for those with long rap sheets, 57th (or so) chances. 

Also: The entire 21-member parole board is composed of appointees of Democrat Govs. Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom.

There was a time when public safety transcended party and ideology, when both parties saw the sense in locking up the worst offenders and keeping them caged where they can’t hurt innocents.

No longer. From defund the police to no jail for thieves to early prison releases for felons, many on the left are now, for all intents and purposes, pro-criminal.

So good for the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation.

Someone needs to stand up for victims and innocents while the parole board and governor ease up on the perps.

True public safety comes from law and order. Not from leniency, misplaced compassion and far-left wishful thinking.