Proposition 57 – Early Release

Proposition 57 – the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act – was approved by California voters in 2016 and changed how nonviolent offenders are released on parole.

The District Attorney’s Office evaluates the public safety impact of every inmate prosecuted in Los Angeles County who is deemed eligible for early release under the new law. The office also makes every effort to notify victims about the possible release of an inmate so their voices may be heard.

For victims and others interested in obtaining information about an inmate’s custody status and when he or she is eligible for parole, the best source is the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Inmate Locator website (https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov).

To find parole information on the site:

  • Acknowledge the disclaimer.

  • Enter the inmate’s name or CDCR number and search.

  • Click the appropriate name from the “Inmate Search Results” page.

  • On the “Inmate Information” page, click on the orange “View Board of Parole Hearings’ Actions” button near the bottom of the page, which directs users to the Board of Parole Hearings’ decision on the inmate or the inmate’s expected hearing date.

Proposition 57 created a new parole consideration process for nonviolent offenders who have completed their minimum base term sentence (the base term does not include time given for any sentence enhancements) and demonstrated that they should no longer be considered a public threat.

The Board of Parole Hearings alerts the District Attorney’s Office of the possible release of eligible inmates. The office has 30 days after it receives the notification letter to register a response on the possible release of the inmate. The office’s stance on the release may include information about the impact on the crime victim.  

Office personnel screen eligible inmates before offering a response on an early release. The office weighs a host of factors, including the safety of the victim and the public, the victim’s rights, the facts of the offense and the inmate’s criminal history. The office works to notify all victims of their right to have input in parole consideration proceedings by the Board of Parole Hearings.

The Board of Parole Hearings has full discretion to make the final decision on the release of all eligible inmates.