A California bill that would have sent some sex offenders who violated parole back to state prison has been rejected by an Assembly committee.
The measure by Republican Mike Morrell applied to sex offenders who failed to register as required by state law. Under the bill, those offenders would have been sent to state prison.
Morrell said because of Governor Jerry Brown’s realignment program to combat overcrowding, those offenders are now ending up in county jails – where there’s often no room for them.
“Currently, sex offenders can violate their parole and not register as a sex offender. What happens to them? They’re often released with just a slap on the wrist, which isn’t right,” Morrell explained.
The Democratic-controlled committee rejected the bill, with opponents arguing that realignment has been beneficial. They also pointed out a three-judge panel will decide this month on whether California has sufficiently reduced its prison population.
