Legislation
CELWOP seeks an end to extreme sentencing through legislative advocacy. We hold events throughout the session, including lobby days, rallies, and briefings, to educate legislators and the general public about the need for reform.
Our priority bill for the 2024-2025 legislative session
An Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration (SD.1006/HD.348)
Sponsored by Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Christopher Worrell
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An Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration (SD.1006/HD.348)
Sponsored by Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Christopher Worrell
This bill would eliminate the extreme sentence of life without parole by giving all incarcerated persons the opportunity for a parole hearing after serving 25 years of their sentence. This legislation would not guarantee parole, only a hearing. It would also require the Department of Correction to provide each incarcerated individual with the opportunity to participate in a restorative justice program.
Restorative Justice Program
Included in An Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration
This voluntary program to be sponsored by the Department of Correction relies on the voluntary participation of all parties affected by a crime. Through face-to-face meetings, responsible parties: take responsibility, gain a deeper understanding of the harms resulting from their actions, publicly apologize, and commit to work on repairing the harm.
For more information on An act to Reduce Mass Incarceration and the included Restorative Justice Program, see An Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration 2024-2025 Factsheet.
Past Priority Bills: 2023-2024 Legislative Session
An Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration (S.1045 / H.1821)
Sponsored by Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Christopher Worrell
This bill would allow all people serving life sentences the opportunity for a parole hearing after serving 25 years, and would ensure access to restorative justice programming.
For more information, see: An Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration 2023-2024 Factsheet.
This bill is currently being considered by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, which has until April 30, 2024 to decide whether the bill moves forward in the legislative process.
An Act Establishing Parole Review for Aging Incarcerated People (S.1547/H.2397)
Sponsored by Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa
Releasing aging people in prison who have already served long sentences is an urgent matter of racial and gender justice. This policy will allow us to reinvest taxpayer money and help eliminate the need for new prison construction. will make people ages 55 and older eligible to see the Parole Board after they have served half of their sentence or at least 15 years, regardless of transgression. The bill would require the parole board to consider the impact of long-term incarceration on elders but would not guarantee an individual’s release
For more information, please see this factsheet by Families for Justice As Healing, which is leading work on this bill: An Act Establishing Parole Review for Aging Incarcerated People Factsheet
This bill is currently being considered by the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, which has until April 8, 2024 to decide whether the bill moves forward in the legislative process.