The California Senate Public Safety Committee voted on a bill Tuesday to give the state’s worst murderers, who have been sentenced to death or life without the possibility of parole (LWOP), the opportunity to have their sentences invalidated and make them eligible for parole.
Senate Bill 94, authored by Senator Dave Cortese (D-Santa Clara), specifies that criminals convicted of murder with special circumstances before June 5, 1990, and sentenced to death or LWOP would be provided with a public defender to petition for recall and resentencing. The bill would authorize the court to modify the murderer’s sentence to impose a lesser sentence and apply any changes in law that reduce sentences or provide for judicial discretion, or to vacate the murderer’s conviction and impose judgment on a lesser included offense.
Among the murderers who could apply for a sentence reduction and possible release is Tiequon Cox, who in 1984, went to the wrong Los Angeles home for a gang-revenge killing and murdered a mother, her daughter and two of her grandchildren. Cox was sentenced to death for these crimes. In 2004, while on death row, Cox stabbed another condemned murderer and, along with three other murderers, cut a hole in the San Quentin fence and nearly escaped.
Co-authors of SB94 include Democrat Senators Josh Becker (D-San Mateo), Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and Assemblywoman Corrie Jackson (D-Riverside) and Assemblywoman Akilah Weber (D-San Diego).
The beneficiaries of this measure, if passed, will be criminals convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances. These are murderers who killed multiple victims or killed in concert with a rape, robbery, kidnapping or torture. While it would seem unthinkable for any legislator, let alone a group of them, to want their names on a bill that would allow murderers like these to go free, bear in mind that Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, Alameda County DA Pamela Price and California Attorney General Rob Bonta all support setting murderers free after 15-20 years in prison.
With the recent fatal shooting of a 5-year-old girl riding in the backseat of her parents car on a bay area freeway, last week’s fatal stabbing of revered tech executive Bob Lee on a San Francisco sidewalk, and the random murder of an innocent hostage and injury of two others at a Roseville Park, the slogan “no justice, no peace” seems quite appropriate for the Golden State.
This article was updated to reflect that the bill was already heard Tuesday.
View Comments (32)
Another example of Democrats loving the criminals
The next Governor should run on the proposal to execute them all on the very last day before they are eligible for parole.
You're just pushing propaganda if you can't give even one sentence that explains the other side.
read the bill
These delusional “legislators” are not working in the best interests of the people they are supposed to represent. They’re fomenting chaos by early releases of violent criminals. Justice is not served by putting murderers of MULTIPLE people back on the streets
Actually they are not giving early releases to violent criminals. They are giving the elderly population who have spent the majority of their lives in prison the opportunity to have their case looked at. Parole is not guaranteed in any sense and especially not for violent criminals. Everyone should have the opportunity to show that they have changed. It states clearly in the bill that the vast majority of people eligible are the lowest possible risk for reoffending.
Anyone who votes for a Democrat if this is passed, is just plain an idiot. They will kill again.
Actually they are not giving early releases to violent criminals. They are giving the elderly population who have spent the majority of their lives in prison the opportunity to have their case looked at. Parole is not guaranteed in any sense and especially not for violent criminals. Everyone should have the opportunity to show that they have changed. It states clearly in the bill that the vast majority of people eligible are the lowest possible risk for reoffending. The recidivism rate for this population is 0%.
There’s nothing in this bill that says anything about the elderly. It says that it’s for people imprisoned for crimes that occurred before June 1990. So that gang banger who killed someone in a drive-by when they were a teen would now be about 50. Now what I’d call “elderly”.
Clearly you have never had a murder in your family like I have. What rights should an elderly murderer have once he has taken a life by choice? We are talking first degree murder! This man was a convicted 4 time felon before he committed murder. I should say after 4 times of being a felon and released, he should not have the opportunity get out. This is a violent criminal in my eyes
how about the victims who didn't get a chance to get old because they were murdered? will they get a second chance to be alive and will have a low risk not to get murdered again?
Who is providing the money for this bill, or does it even matter anymore?
This bill is probably necessary for Newsom to turn San Quinten into a 'place of healing'.
I am sure that there are not any real estate developers with their eyes on San Quinten , or Laguna Honda for that matter.
DEFUND POLITICS.
Totally agree. This is ridiculous and we Californians should be ashamed of our state politicians.
This bill would actually cut costs quite significantly as it is very expensive to keep elderly people in prisons. In the past people who this bill targets who have been granted early release have a 0% chance of reoffending.
Oh Jenny, Jenny, Jenny. Tell all that to the families of the 67 men Randy Kraft brutally murdered, one of them being a friend of mine in high school. That POS should have been executed long ago and I'm not sure why someone hasn't shanked his sorry a$$, but they haven't.
So tell us, what's his name, this killer you pine for?
They are suppose to be dead. Why can't we execute them within a week of their sentencing? This shouldn't be rocket science. Their crimes are heinous, vile and repulsive. The families and victims of these people deserve justice. Carry out the bloody sentencing.
Mary is right on!
Gav lied to the voter when the first thing he did in office was to cancel the voting public's vote for the death penalty.
This is a long game for the real estate moguls.
What legislature will introduce execution by firing squad........it wont come from the rank and file Dems!
Democrats like to get their holes stuffed by criminals while their husbands watch. People are quick to judge and look down on people but we are all just animals in God's eyes.
"Polly Klaas' Father 'Viscerally Angry' After Learning about Gov Newsom's Execution Moratorium"
March 13, 2019:
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/polly-klaass-father-says-he-was-blindsided-over-governors-moratorium-on-executions/103-c5d835f4-2d14-4e6b-b940-4a66bb133bec
"Father of Murder Victim Slams CA Gov Newsom for Giving Criminals 'Reprieve'"
September 5, 2021
https://www.foxnews.com/us/father-of-murder-victim-slams-ca-gov-newsom-for-giving-criminals-reprieve
I also discussed this on radio today with Ray Appleton: https://californiaglobe.com/governor/murder-victims-families-duped-by-gov-newsom-in-pre-death-penalty-moratorium-meeting/
So glad to hear it had an airing today, Katy, in light of what is now being proposed. That article was actually the quintessential one about this heart-rending outrage.
Senate.ca.gov./senators
Assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
SB 94 - Author - Senator Dave Cortese (D-Santa Clara)
"Co-authors of SB94 include Democrat Senators Josh Becker (D-San Mateo), Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and Assemblywoman Corrie Jackson (D-Riverside) and Assemblywoman Akilah Weber (D-San Diego)."
Murder is the crime that never ends. 20 years later, the victim is still dead, and still murdered. The victims are not paroled after 20 years, and the murderer should not be either.