Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones announced on Mar. 19 the introduction of Senate Bill 906, which aims to increase transparency and accountability in the California Board of Parole Hearings by making commissioners’ votes public.
The proposed legislation seeks to address concerns about the current system that allows parole board meetings and vote records to remain hidden from the public, exempting them from state open meeting laws. Supporters say this lack of transparency has led to early releases of violent serial sex offenders without public oversight.
“Secret votes in closed meetings to release sex predators who target children are unconscionable. The public has a right to know what is being said in these parole hearings, and who is voting to let these monsters out,” Jones said. “As a parent and a grandparent, what’s happening is horrifying. And as legislators, it’s our duty to hold the parole board and the governor who appoints its commissioners accountable to protect public safety.”
Jones pointed out that recent changes by Democrat legislators have loosened parole rules for certain offenders, making individuals like David Allen Funston eligible for parole after serving only part of their sentences. He also noted that exemptions from the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act have contributed to a system where thousands of violent criminals may be released each year without public knowledge or input.
Jones said SB 906, along with his previously introduced SB 356—which would raise the minimum age for elder parole eligibility to 60 and require at least 25 years served—are intended as reforms for what he describes as an overly lenient process that endangers Californians.
Jones engages in public service through legislation on education and veteran support, according to the official website. He was born into a military family on a base in Austin, Texas according to the official website. Jones has led the California Senate Republican Caucus as Senate Minority Leader according to the official website. He has been married since 1992 and has three adult children according to the official website. Jones won seats in both the California State Assembly and later in the State Senate according to the official website. He graduated from Grossmont College and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University according to the official website.
The broader implications of SB 906 could affect how parole decisions are made across California by increasing transparency and potentially changing outcomes for those seeking early release.
