PREDICTABLE MOVE IN CALIFORNIA

By Bob Walsh

 

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., commonly known as the Golden State Killer, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by a Sacramento County judge for killing 13 people and raping dozens more during the 1970s and ’80s. 

 

There is now a serious move underway in the formerly great state of California to dump LWOP (life without parole) as a punishment.  

  

Under the current administration the death penalty does not exist, despite repeated votes of the people in support of it.  Gavin Newsom has placed a moratorium on its use, and has had the death chamber dismantled.  This move would put a renewal of executions back YEARS even if it were reinstated tomorrow. 

 

The current push is being generated by a vocal minority who insist that LWOP is too mean and that it does not allow for rehabilitation.  Also they assert that it creates management problems as you have a significant group of prisoners who have (in theory) nothing to lose.  This is despite the fact that LWOP does not truly exist any more in CA.  Even LWOP prisoners are reviewed for POSSIBLE parole consideration after having serving a significant chunk of their sentence and having reached a particular age.   

 

It is obvious that Gavin Newsom is looking SERIOUSLY at becoming out new President.  He just vetoed a "safe injection site" bill with that in mind.  You should remember that LWOP was initiated as a reasonable alternative to the death penalty when people wanted to be sure that there were some bad guys who would NEVER get out.   

 

Gavin is smart enough to know he really is a radical lib.  That will get him NY and CA but not the rest of the country.  Like Senile Joe he was at least appear to be sort-of near the center.  Will this help him?  Damned if I know.