Eight years ago, then-Gov. Jerry Brown hoodwinked California voters into making it easier for violent sex offenders to shorten their prison sentences.
A month ago, the 2016 ballot measure that Brown sponsored, Proposition 57 , allowed one of the state’s most notorious serial rapists, Andrew Luster , to be granted parole after serving less than half of his 50-year prison term. Three weeks later the Legislature passed a bill to close the loophole in Prop. 57 that would allow Luster to be released.
When Brown proposed Prop. 57 to voters, he said it would benefit only those convicted of nonviolent crimes by allowing them to qualify more easily for parole.
“It’s well-balanced,” Brown said at the time. “It’s thoughtful.”
However, Prop. 57 did not define what would be considered violent crimes, and opponents speculated that if passed, the measure could set some violent felons free.
Finally, after much prodding by journalists, Brown’s campaign acknowledged that only those convicted of violent crimes listed in Penal Code Section 667.5 would not qualify for early release.