(1) Existing law requires that specified persons who have been released on parole from state prison who were not imprisoned for a violent felony, a serious felony, or an offense requiring registration as a sex offender, and who have been on parole for a period of 6 months, be discharged from parole unless the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation recommends to the Board of Parole Hearings that the person should be retained, and the board, for good cause, determines that the person is to be retained.
Existing law additionally requires specified persons who have been released on parole from state prison who were imprisoned for a serious felony or an offense requiring registration as a sex offender, and who have been on parole continuously for one year since release from confinement, to be similarly discharged from parole. Finally, existing law requires that specified persons who have been released on parole from state prison who were imprisoned for a violent felony, and who have been released on parole for a period not exceeding 3 years and have been on parole continuously for 2 years since release from confinement, or who have been released on parole for a period not exceeding 5 years and have been on parole continuously for 3 years since release from confinement, be similarly discharged from parole.
This bill would instead require all of the persons described, except those imprisoned for an offense requiring registration as a sex offender, who have been on parole continuously for 180 days and during that time have not committed any new offenses or violated the terms or conditions of parole, to be discharged, unless there is good cause, as specified, for the person to be retained.
This bill would make similar changes for persons on postrelease community supervision.
This bill would require, if a person on parole is retained, for a written plan to be developed to provide the person with interventions including counseling and vocational training.
This bill would also require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on the impact of this program on lowering recidivism and other positive outcomes for formerly incarcerated persons.
This bill would also create a program under which the length of a parolee's period of parole could be reduced through credits earned by successfully completing specified education, training, or treatment programs, or by participating in volunteer service, while adhering to the conditions of parole. The bill would make this program inapplicable to a person who is required to register as a sex offender.
(2) Under existing law, an inmate is released to the county of their residence before incarceration or, when the interest of public safety is best served, to another location specified by the Board of Parole Hearings. Existing regulations prohibit a parolee from traveling more than 50 miles from their residence without the approval of a parole agent.
The bill would also increase the 50-mile travel restriction for a parolee who successfully participates in the parole credit program, subject to certain restrictions.
The bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Board of Parole Hearings to adopt regulations to carry out this program and would require the department to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature regarding the success of the parole credit program, as specified.
This bill would, as a condition of continued state funding, prohibit any entity that receives state funds and provides services and programs in the fields of education, job training, workforce placement, health, or housing, from denying access to services or programs to a person on the basis that the person is currently or previously has been on parole or postrelease community supervision.
This bill would require the department to notify an inmate or person on parole and the sentencing court of any sentencing errors that the department or any agent thereof becomes aware of.
This bill would limit the number of persons on parole under the supervision of a single parole agent to 40.
(3) Existing law grants certain credits against a person's sentence that may be earned by persons who are incarcerated, as specified.
This bill would clarify that the ability to earn credits cannot be waived by the sentencing court or by the defendant as part of a plea agreement.
By changing terms for persons under county supervision, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Statutes affected:
05/04/20 - Amended Assembly: 2933 PEN, 3000 PEN, 3001 PEN, 3456 PEN