San Diego City Wire

Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones from San Diego has introduced Senate Bill 356, aiming to change the current procedures at the Board of Parole Hearings. The proposed legislation seeks to provide parole commissioners with comprehensive information, including graphic crime photos, when considering inmate releases. This initiative also ensures that victims and their families have all evidence considered before a perpetrator's release.

Leader Jones emphasized the gravity of decisions made by parole commissioners: “Parole commissioners are, quite literally, making life and death decisions on behalf of our communities when they consider releasing criminals back onto our streets. There is no excuse for them to be ill-equipped or have important information hidden from them in that decision-making process.”

In January 2024, a policy was enacted by the Board which excluded "graphic" images from files presented to commissioners. These images could include crime scene photos and photographs of victims post-assault. Jones criticized this exclusion: “Excluding photographs deemed by unelected bureaucrats as ‘graphic’ is absurd. If the crime was graphic, the photos would be graphic too, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be included.”

Jones advocates for immediate implementation of his proposal, stating: “This is commonsense policy that needs to be implemented immediately and I see it as righting a wrong that’s occurred.” He further added that if criminals do not want such evidence shown during parole considerations, they should not commit these acts.

The bill intends to repeal the recent Board policy and prevent similar future policies that might bias parole commissioners against victims and in favor of inmates seeking release. San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan sponsors Senate Bill 356, which is currently awaiting assignment to a Senate policy committee for further review.