Changes in the law and at the CDCR may result in an offender being released or qualifying for a parole hearing earlier than anticipated. These include:

Youthful Offender Parole Hearings – In 2018, the legislature expanded the definition of a “youthful offender” to include anyone who was under the age of 26 when they committed their crime. This created new parole opportunities for many offenders. Anyone who is sentenced to more than 15 years but has less than a life sentence will automatically get a parole hearing in their 15th year of incarceration. Anyone sentenced to less than 25 years to life receives a hearing in their 20th year, and any youthful offender sentenced to more than 25 years to life will have a parole hearing in their 25th year of incarceration.

Elder Parole Hearings – Inmates 60 or older and who have been in custody for 25 years or more qualify to have a parole hearing.

Expanded Medical Parole Hearings – If an inmate has certain medical conditions they can be released to a skilled nursing facility.

Compassionate Releases – recommended by CDCR due to inmate’s health condition and heard by a judge to determine if the inmate should be resentenced and released.

Nonviolent Parole Hearings – Proposition 57 was passed by the voters in 2016. It established a pathway to early parole for offenders who are serving sentences for crimes deemed “nonviolent” by the Penal Code. Prop 57 also created ways for offenders to earn additional credits towards their sentences, which leads to earlier release dates

To be notified directly by CDCR of a release date or parole hearing

Please register at: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/

1. Sign up for 1707 notifications 
2. Select Victims Services (drop down menu)
3. Choose Request Services (this will take you directly to the 1707 instructions)

To view if an inmate is in CDCR custody

1. Select Offender Info (drop down menu)
2. Choose Inmate Locator

Victims and their next of kin have the right to participate in Parole Hearings to have their voice heard.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, incarcerated individuals may be released from custody (county jail or prison) earlier than anticipated.

Notification of release from Santa Rita Jail

Register at: www.vinelink.com

Select the state and follow the prompts.

Notification of release from State Prison

Register at: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/

Once on the site, please sign up for 1707 notifications: select Victims Services option drop down menu and choose Request Services (this will take you directly to the 1707 instructions).

To view if an inmate is in CDC custody: select Offender Info option drop down menu and choose Inmate Locator.

Felony Murder Cases

In January 2019, the California legislature changed the long-existing murder laws, narrowing the definition of murder. These laws are retroactive, so people who were convicted of murder in the past can petition to have the court review whether they could still be convicted of murder today. If they could not, they are entitled to have their murder conviction vacated and replaced with a conviction for a lesser crime. The changes to the law affect only a small portion of murder convictions.

Prior Felony Convictions

Sometimes CDCR asks the District Attorney’s Office to reconsider and reduce an inmate’s sentence. Such request may arise based on the inmate’s behavior in the prison system or because the inmate has serious medical conditions. When the DA’s Office receives such requests, it considers CDCR’s position as well as concerns for fundamental fairness and the impact on victims before making any decisions.

Parole Hearings

Parole hearings fall under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

• To check for an upcoming hearing, you may search using CDCR’s Inmate Locator. CDCR Public Inmate Locator Disclaimer
• If you would like to attend an upcoming parole hearing and/or give a victim impact statement to the Board of Parole Hearings’ panel members, you must contact the Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) via email victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov or call 1-877-256-6877. You may also submit a request through the Victim Services Parole Hearing Reservation Portal: https://apps.cdcr.ca.gov/bphvictimreservation/  
• To be notified of a change in custody status, please contact OVSRS via email victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov or call 1-877-256-6877. You may also submit a request online: https://e1707.cdcr.ca.gov/Sections.aspx

Should you still have further questions or need help registering for an upcoming hearing, contact District Attorney Victim Witness Advocate: Shawn Mitchell                @ shawn-mitchell@acgov.org

Resentencing

For information regarding resentencing please contact

Senior Assistant District Attorney: Demarris R. Evans @ DAresentencing@acgov.org