Crimes: torture of a minor: parole.

Assembly Member Bains' legislation targeting torture crimes against minors would extend the minimum parole eligibility period from 7 to 20 years for adult defendants who had care or custody of victims aged 14 or younger at the time of the offense. The enhanced parole restrictions would apply to crimes committed after January 1, 2026.

Under current California law, individuals convicted of torture face life imprisonment with parole eligibility after serving at least 7 years. Torture is defined as intentionally inflicting great bodily injury to cause cruel or extreme pain for purposes such as revenge, extortion, persuasion, or sadistic gratification. The proposed changes create a new category of parole restrictions specifically for cases involving defendants who held positions of care or custody over young victims.

The bill designates these changes as a state-mandated local program, requiring jurisdictions to implement the new parole eligibility criteria without additional state funding. Local agencies and correctional facilities would need to adjust their procedures to ensure defendants meeting the specified conditions serve the full 20-year term before parole consideration. The legislation's delayed effective date provides time for the criminal justice system to incorporate these modifications into existing processes.