A bill that would allow juveniles sentenced to life in prison to request a hearing for resentencing after serving 15 years failed to pass in the California Assembly. The bill’s author,Senator Leland Yee,and supporters, vowed to reintroduce the bill before the Legislation’s session is over on September 9.
The bill was opposed by Republicans and victims right organizations, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Although the bill was close to passing at one point, it failed when the final vote was tallied at 36-36, five votes short.
The bill, SB9, would have allowed juveniles who were sentenced to life in prison to petition the court after serving 15 years. The petitioner would have had to led an exemplary life while locked up, and if the court decided he or she had met all the criteria for being considered, the judge could resentence the inmate to 25 years-to-life. After serving 25 years the inmate could be released, although there is no guarantee that this would happen.
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