Facing staunch opposition from family members of victims, law enforcement groups, and Republican lawmakers, a bill that would allow for resentencing of inmates convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee June 27 on a partisan vote.
Introduced with the intention of allowing a path for release for elderly inmates some believe to no longer be a risk to society, supporters of the bill say that imprisoning people for decades lacks humanity, with the bill intended to alleviate such concerns.
But some law enforcement representatives adamantly opposed the legislation, citing significant costs to the state, potential harm to family members, and risk to communities if the bill is approved….