California State Senator Brian Jones (R-San Diego) has introduced Senate Bill 356, a measure requiring the California Board of Parole Hearings to consider all relevant materials—including graphic crime scene photos—when determining an inmate’s parole eligibility.

The California Globe notes that the bill comes in response to a January 2024 policy change that barred parole commissioners from reviewing graphic images of crimes, including crime scene photos and pictures of victims. Advocates for victims’ rights, along with families of crime victims, have voiced strong opposition to the change, arguing that it limits the board’s ability to fully assess the severity of an inmate’s crime. Despite calls to reverse the policy, the board refused, prompting Jones to introduce SB 356 to ensure that parole decisions are made with a complete understanding of the crime committed.

Senator Jones emphasized the importance of giving parole commissioners access to all relevant materials, stating, “Parole commissioners are, quite literally, making life and death decisions on behalf of our communities when they consider releasing criminals back onto our streets. There is no excuse for them to be ill-equipped or have important information hidden from them in that decision-making process.”

If passed, SB 356 would ensure that parole boards have access to all available evidence, reinforcing that crime victims and public safety must be at the forefront of parole decisions.