California’s prison population could shrink by nearly 10,000 over the next few years under Proposition 57, which was approved by voters last fall.
But State Analyst Caitlin O'Neil says some fine-tuning may still be needed for the measure's rollout.
Proposition 57 makes more non-violent offenders eligible for parole. O’Neil says next year alone it will likely save more than $20 million. But there’s some question over the state’s plan to implement it, which excludes sex registrants.
Voters said all nonviolent offenders shall be eligible.
“Somebody could be required to register as a sex offender for a prior conviction. They may be currently serving time for an offense that is not a sex offense," O'Neil says. "But they would still be considered a sex registrant, and as such they would be excluded from parole consideration under the current regulations.”
A report O’Neil wrote for the state Legislative Analyst’s Office also urges officials to look at ways to make parole decisions more consistent.
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