California Black Media
Republicans and Democrats Spar Over Bill That Would Allow Some Life Sentences to be Overturned
California Senate and Assembly Republicans are rallying against Senate Bill (SB) 94, legislation that would allow people sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole to petition the court for a lighter sentence. The bill authored by Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), would enable the court to resentence people imprisoned without the possibility of parole if the individual has served a minimum of 25 years and if their offense occurred before June 5, 1990.
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
California Senate and Assembly Republicans are rallying against Senate Bill (SB) 94, legislation that would allow people sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole to petition the court for a lighter sentence.
The bill authored by Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), would enable the court to resentence people imprisoned without the possibility of parole if the individual has served a minimum of 25 years and if their offense occurred before June 5, 1990.
According to SB 94, only individuals convicted under “special circumstance murder” would be eligible to petition for a new sentence. The proposed law would not apply to individuals that committed murder in an egregious manner such as torture, poison, lying in wait, rape by instrument, mayhem, and other offenses, according to Cortese.
Republican Senators released an extensive analysis of the bill outlining how it undermines public safety and arguing that the early release of violent criminals is “an affront to victims, their families and people concerned about crime rates statewide.”
At a press conference on Aug. 22, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego), joined other GOP lawmakers in denouncing the bill, asserting that freedom is a right reserved for law-abiding citizens.
“When violent murderers brutally take a life, they lose their right to freedom,” said Jones.
“Now, radical Democrat politicians want to bring these violent offenders back into our communities. Releasing heinous murderers after promising justice to the victims’ families is not just disrespectful, it’s dangerous,” he said.
Pushing back on the criticisms from across the aisle, Cortese put out on statement stating that Republicans are spreading misinformation about the bill. Cortese reiterated that the bill would not release people from prison, rather it would send people to judicial court, State Parole Board, and the Governor. .
“At each level, public safety is paramount, by utilizing the four-tiered process we are ensuring that only those who have rehabilitated pursuant to a Judicial Court, the Parole Board, and our Governor have the potential to be released. All three must agree. Only those having already served a minimum of 25 years may request a hearing,” said Cortese.
“I would encourage everyone to read the bill and read our proposed amendments,” Cortese added.
California Black Media
Study: UC 4-Year Grad Rate Doubles That of CSU
Graduation rates at the University of California have increased by 10 points over the last ten years putting the college system on track to achieve its 2030 graduation goals, according to a report on college completion in the state released by the Public Policy Institute of California. Recent data indicated that the UC system has a graduation rate of 73% for four-year students and a six-year graduation rate of 86%, according to the institution’s data. The system will increase the four-year graduation rate to 76% and the six-year rate to 90% by 2030. However, students at California State University are lagging behind with a graduation rate of 36% for four-year students and a 62% for six-year graduation rate. The graduation rates for students in the UC system are more than double that of students at CSU. Consequently, it is unlikely that CSU will meet its graduation goal of graduating 40% of four-year students and 70% of six-year students by 2025.
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Graduation rates at the University of California have increased by 10 points over the last ten years putting the college system on track to achieve its 2030 graduation goals, according to a report on college completion in the state released by the Public Policy Institute of California.
Recent data indicated that the UC system has a graduation rate of 73% for four-year students and a six-year graduation rate of 86%, according to the institution’s data. The system will increase the four-year graduation rate to 76% and the six-year rate to 90% by 2030.
However, students at California State University are lagging behind with a graduation rate of 36% for four-year students and a 62% for six-year graduation rate. The graduation rates for students in the UC system are more than double that of students at CSU. Consequently, it is unlikely that CSU will meet its graduation goal of graduating 40% of four-year students and 70% of six-year students by 2025.
The report revealed that nonprofit institutions have relatively high completion rates compared to a high number of for-profit and private colleges that have lower graduation rates.
Researchers stated that longstanding equity gaps in college completion persist indicating that Black and Latino students graduate at lower rates of 52% and 64% The data is varied in comparison to White and Asian students who graduate at higher rates of 75% and 83%, respectively.
Nonetheless, the report showed that Black students in the UC system graduated at a rate of 78% in four years, nearly double the graduation number of Black students in the CSU system with a rate of 47 percent.
“Campus and regional disparities are stark,” the report stated regarding the varying graduation rates at the different college locations.
“Despite progress, equity gaps at UC remain nearly as large as they were in 2018. At CSU, gaps have widened over time; however, many campuses have made progress in closing them,” the report stated about the equity gaps in the college systems.
The state has set a goal to achieve a graduation rate of 70% by 2030.
Bay Area
State of Black California: Oakland Tour Stop Rescheduled
The 2024 State of Black California Tour stop in Oakland has been rescheduled from Sept. 28 to Dec. 13, at the Oakland Museum of California. Registration for the event is closed after reaching maximum capacity, according to CBBF’s website. Registration for the Oct. 5 tour stop in Moreno Valley is closed as well. Al Sharpton will be a guest speaker at that event.
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
The 2024 State of Black California Tour stop in Oakland has been rescheduled from Sept. 28 to Dec. 13, at the Oakland Museum of California. Registration for the event is closed after reaching maximum capacity, according to CBBF’s website.
Registration for the Oct. 5 tour stop in Moreno Valley is closed as well. Al Sharpton will be a guest speaker at that event.
The series, co-hosted by the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), has made stops in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Fresno, and Sacramento.
The State of Black California series creates space for Black Californians to engage the public and policymakers on the issues that impact the Black community. It will also provide conversations about the status of reparations legislation.
The CBFF is a five-year, $100 million measure to ensure that Black power-building and movement-based organizations have the sustainable investments and effective resources needed to remove systemic and institutional racism. CBFF was the benefactor of $3.5 million in state funds last year, distributed to various Black networks in the state.
California Black Media
Sen. Laphonza Butler Helps Secure Nomination of Central California Federal Judge Michelle Williams Court
Last week, U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, helped to secure the nomination of Judge Michelle Williams Court as Judge for the Central District of California with a vote of 49-44. In her new role, Court became the third Black woman and fifth in the court’s history to serve as an Article III Judge in the state’s Central District. Since 2012, Court worked for the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County.
By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
Last week, U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, helped to secure the nomination of Judge Michelle Williams Court as Judge for the Central District of California with a vote of 49-44.
In her new role, Court became the third Black woman and fifth in the court’s history to serve as an Article III Judge in the state’s Central District.
Since 2012, Court worked for the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County.
In 2023, she was a supervising judge in the court’s civil division. Before being a judge, she worked as an attorney, then later became the vice president and general counsel at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm specializing in human rights and poverty justice.
Court dedicated her career as a lawyer to civil rights and social development. She led and contributed to several projects at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the American Civil Liberties Union in Southern California. The judge earned her Juris Doctor in 1993 from the Loyola Law School at the Loyola Marymount University, and she received her bachelor’s in 1988 from Pomona College.
“The Central District of California serves roughly seventeen million people, making it the largest federal district by population in the entire United States. The judges who serve these Californians are currently facing an unprecedented number of filings, making the need to fill the court’s vacancies all that more urgent. It is commonly said that ‘justice delayed is justice denied,’ and at this moment the people of California’s Central District are indeed being denied justice as a direct result of these judicial vacancies,” said Butler in her statement on the Senate Floor urging her colleagues to approve Court’s nomination.
Butler also praised Court’s commitment to justice and track record of serving the state of California.
“Her nomination is an important step towards building trust in our legal system by ensuring that our federal courts reflect and represent the diversity of the people it serves,” he said regarding Judge Court’s career serving in the state’s justice system.
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