Why Does California Continue to Coddle its Criminals at the Expense of Victims

California's misguided and dangerous criminal justice policies continue to put victims last. Former Sacramento District Attorney and CEO of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, Anne Marie Schubert wrote an opinion piece on this topic in this week’s Sacramento Bee.  The article criticizes California's Elderly Parole Program as overly lenient and harmful to victims' rights. Enacted in 2018 and expanded in 2020 via AB 3234 (signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom with no Republican support), the program originally allowed parole consideration for inmates aged 60+ after 25 years served, then lowered the thresholds to age 50 and 20 years. Schubert argues that this ignores the persistent danger posed by serious offenders, rejecting claims from supporters (like Californians for Safety and Justice) that incarceration exacerbates crime causes and recidivism. She notes California has the nation's most permissive version among 24 states with similar programs, as most others automatically exclude murderers and sex offenders—California exempts only those sentenced to death, life without parole, certain strike-law cases, or first-degree murder of peace officers.

A central example is Roy Waller, the "NorCal Rapist," convicted in 2020 of raping nine women between 1991 and 2006, involving home invasions, binding, assaults, and kidnappings for ATM thefts. Arrested at 58 with tools indicating potential future crimes, he received 897 years but not life without parole. In January 2026, a kidnapping charge reduction shaved 39 years off, making him eligible for elderly parole after about 20 years total (potentially in roughly 14 years from then). Victims, like Nicole Ernest-Payte, and the trial judge expressed outrage, with the judge calling Waller a clear danger and criticizing lawmakers for favoring defendants over victims. Schubert highlights how such eligibility shatters sentencing finality, re-traumatizes survivors, and defies fairness—especially when law-abiding citizens wait until 62 for Social Security while violent criminals can seek release far earlier. Reform bills to exclude violent sex offenders and murderers have repeatedly failed in committee, and she calls for the law's modification or abolition to better protect victims and society.  Below is an excerpt from Ms. Schubert’s article…

A terrible California law favor felons over victims. It should be changed
By Anne Marie Schubert 

In 2018, California’s Democratic supermajority codified into law the Elderly Parole Program, which gave inmates who had served at least 25 years in prison and who were 60 years or older the possibility of being released. Two years later, the Democratic supermajority made it easier for older prison inmates to be released even earlier by lowering the eligibility age to 50 and the amount of time served to 20 years.  READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE>>>