From: Ejahivlbby@aol.com Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 17:45:08 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Urge CA Gov. Wilson to Sign AB 29 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Thursday, September 25, 1997) LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & HIV/AIDS Lobby Contact: Eric-Joseph C. Astacaan, (916) 444-0424 eric.astacaan@lifelobby.org or Ejahivlbby@aol.com COMPASSIONATE RELEASE OF TERMINALLY ILL INMATES DESERVES TO BECOME LAW Assembly Bill 29, sponsored by Assemblymember Antonio Villaraigosa, would allow expedited compassionate release of terminally ill inmates. This bill currently sits on the governor's desk for his signature. Previously, Governor Wilson has twice vetoed similar measures because it took too much authority away from the Board of Prison Terms or that it does not properly consider the risk to public safety. AB 29 has been amended to alleviate the governor's objections. This measure would establish a procedure, where if the Director of Corrections or the Board of Prison Terms (BPT) or both recommend to the court that a prisoner's sentence be recalled, the court may recall the sentence if the court finds that the prisoner is terminally ill and the conditions under which the inmate would be released or receive treatment do not pose a threat to public safety. The bill, however, does not apply to prisoners sentenced to death or a term of life without the possibility of parole. Several reasons exist why this bill should become law. a) AB 29 authorizes a court to recall a sentence only upon recommendation by the Department of Corrections (CDC) or BPT or both, and does not diminish or eliminate BPT's ability to recall a sentence on their own. b) This measure saves California significant cost due to reduced incarceration as well as significant medical care cost savings. For one thing, medical care provided outside a penal institution means no additional security personnel and other security measures. c) Terminally ill prisoners, when released back into the community, would receive medical care that would be shared by private funds, Medi-Cal, Social Security, and other public means. In return, CDC's savings could be earmarked for other needed services. d) This bill is a compassionate and rational policy which would allow inmates to spend their final days with their families and loved ones. In general, AB 29 will streamline the process of the "current medical release" or "recall of sentence" statute, and simply set strict medical criteria for compassionate medical releases without undermining the CDC or BPT's strong position in evaluating the threat to public safety or their authority to recall sentences on their own. Clearly, this bill should become law and deserves Governor Wilson's signature. ##### URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Please send or fax letters or call Governor Wilson and urge him to sign AB 29 into law. The Honorable Pete Wilson Governor, State of California State Capitol, First Floor Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916/445-2841, Fax: 916/445-4633 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- This message has been brought to you by LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV/AIDS Lobby. LIFE has been lobbying on behalf of California's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-affected communities since 1986. LIFE is the oldest and largest institution representing these communities in California's State Capitol and is proud to celebrate over a decade of service. If you would like further information about our activities, events or membership, please contact our office at: LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & HIV/AIDS Lobby 1301 H St., Ste. 200 Sacramento, CA 95814-1906 Phone: (916) 444-0424 Fax: (916) 444-3059 E-Mail: life.info@lifelobby.org Website: http://lifelobby.org