California
FAMM releases statement on passage of The Equal Chance Act in California
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Tripp Laino, 202-999-4273
tlaino@famm.org
FAMM releases statement on passage of The Equal Chance Act in California
SACRAMENTO – FAMM’s Deputy Director of Policy Daniel Landsman released the following statement after California’s assembly passed The Equal Chance Act, a bill that would make retroactive a recent reform allowing judges the discretion to strike or dismiss firearm enhancements at sentencing.
“We are glad to see the Assembly support legislation to give people serving long and often unjust and unnecessary firearm sentence enhancements an opportunity for resentencing,” Landsman said. “The Legislature has already determined that judges should have the discretion to not apply these enhancements, it is only right that this apply retroactively.”
A law went into effect in 2018 allowing judges to strike or dismiss firearm enhancements at sentencing if it was in the interest of justice but the law did not apply to people already sentenced.
FAMM joins Initiate Justice in supporting the Equal Chance Act authored by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor. Though this bill will allow an opportunity for resentencing, judges will retain full discretion and prosecutors will have the opportunity to prove that someone is an unreasonable risk to public safety and unfit to be resentenced.
For more than three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM has led the fight to reform extreme mandatory sentencing laws and to promote rehabilitation and dignity for all people in prison, 94 percent of whom will return to our neighborhoods one day.
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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safely reduce incarceration, save taxpayer dollars, and keep families together. Founded in 1991, FAMM has secured bold sentencing and prison reform across the country while elevating the voices of directly impacted individuals and families.