California Manditory Minimum Sentencing Reform.

My son's dad has been in prison for almost thirty years on a 25 to Life Sentance. He is now in his early fifty 's with a variety of health issues. When he was arrested for murderer back in 1986, he was suffering from a sever brain injury and was threatened with the death penalty if he did not take a Life Term plea bargain. He had no previous criminal history and his crime was committed in the hopes of protecting children who were being abused by the victim on a regular basis. He is now much recovered from the injury and knows he committed a horrible crime.
His is only one story out of hundreds. Another Lifer inmate has been in prison over thirty years for the crime of accidently killing his mother's boyfriend as he was beating severely beating her. He too is over fifty years old with no release in site.
Both of these men committed one crime, both to protect a weaker person and both are serving Life sentances and both are now elderly and suffering from health issues that, collectively, cost state tax payers thousands of dollars a year in health care.
A decade ago, the state housed 6000 inmates 55 and older. In 2012 it is more like 14,000 over 55. By 2017, there will be an estimated 20,000. That is an amazing figure. Even Judge Anthony Kline knows that "recindivism among Lifer prisoners is less than 1%. "
Let our Lifers go home when they have served their time. Save the state money. Thank For your time. Please share this.