Under California bill, 'molesters' and 'rapists' could be released without punishment, Senate GOP cautions.

A bill aimed at safeguarding inmates from sexual assault in California state prisons could inadvertently shorten the sentences of violent offenders, according to state Republicans.

The bill SB 898, sponsored by Berkeley Democrat state Sen. Nancy Skinner, aims to improve protections for inmates in California state prisons by addressing sexual abuse and increasing access to legal relief.

According to Republicans, a provision in the bill allows inmates serving sentences of 15 years or more to seek resentencing or release if there have been changes to sentencing guidelines since their conviction.

"State Sen. Brian Dahle stated in an interview with Planet Chronicle Digital that the decrease in crime being touted is due to the Democrats' decriminalization of crime in California. As a result, victims of heinous crimes such as homicide, sexual assault, rape, and child molestation can have a potential hearing every three years to determine if they have been rehabilitated or not."

Dahle's statement implies that the cycle of frequent hearings and petitions will cause victims to repeatedly attend these hearings every three years, reliving the trauma inflicted by the perpetrator.

Skinner rejects the Republican criticisms of SB 898, labeling them as "unfounded accusations" that are "merely the latest instance of MAGA propaganda and deception."

"SB 898's primary objective is to safeguard incarcerated individuals who have been sexually assaulted by prison guards or staff. The bill's additional provision only allows defense attorneys to request a court hearing if California modifies a sentencing law. SB 898 does not release anyone from prison."

The California District Attorneys Association strongly opposed the bill, arguing that it would result in a constant cycle of hearings for murderers, rapists, and child molesters.

If California revises prison sentences for certain crimes, defense attorneys can request hearings, but this does not guarantee release from prison. Judges have the power to deny these hearings, and there is no assurance that a change in sentencing guidelines will result in immediate release.

Skinner's bill proposes changes to the handling of sexual abuse and sentencing issues within the California prison system. The bill requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to monitor incarcerated individuals who report sexual abuse for 90 days to prevent retaliation.

"Dahle stated that if someone is being raped in prison, it is necessary to address the situation and take action to prevent it. This issue has been ongoing since people have been incarcerated, and while there are certainly bad actors, prisons are often difficult places to isolate individuals."

The Senate Republicans' analysis of the bill states that it is incorrectly labeled by Legislative Counsel as a bill mainly addressing 'sexual assault resentencing.'

The analysis states that the title from the previous version remains, although it contains some provisions related to the topic, the most significant changes made to sentencing law in the bill are not related to sexual assault, except for the possibility of allowing individuals who have committed sex crimes to be released from prison earlier.