Parole: minimum eligible date.

Assembly Member Kalra's parole reform legislation would require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to apply good behavior and rehabilitation credits toward reducing minimum terms before parole eligibility for all individuals serving life sentences. Currently, while CDCR has constitutional authority to award credits for positive conduct and program participation, certain serious offenses like murder and rape are excluded from having these credits count toward earlier parole consideration.

The measure establishes that when setting minimum confinement periods for life sentences, the CDCR Secretary must factor in all applicable credits earned through good behavior and approved rehabilitative or educational achievements, as authorized under the California Constitution. For inmates serving consecutive life terms, credits would apply to each sentence's minimum term. The bill maintains existing provisions allowing special consideration through youth offender and elderly parole hearings, as well as requirements for the parole board to review input from judges, district attorneys, sheriffs and other interested parties.

This change would create a uniform system for applying earned credits across all life sentences, regardless of the underlying offense. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation would need to update its administrative processes for calculating minimum terms and parole eligibility dates to implement the new requirements. While the measure does not appropriate funds, the Legislative Analyst's Office notes potential state savings from reduced incarceration periods could be offset by initial implementation costs.