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SB-356 • 2026

Elderly parole program.

Elderly parole program.

Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Jones
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify what types of photographs the board must consider.

Elderly Parole Program Changes

The bill changes the Elderly Parole Program to require inmates to be at least 60 years old and have served at least 25 years in prison to qualify for parole review.

What This Bill Does

  • Raises the minimum age from 50 to 60 years old for inmates to be eligible for the Elderly Parole Program.
  • Requires inmates to serve a minimum of 25 years instead of 20 years before they can join the program.
  • Requires the Board of Parole Hearings to consider specified photographs during parole suitability hearings.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Inmates who are over 60 and have served at least 25 years in prison.
  • The Board of Parole Hearings

Terms To Know

Elderly Parole Program
A program that reviews if older inmates can be released on parole.
Board of Parole Hearings
The group that decides whether an inmate is ready for release on parole.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what types of photographs the Board must consider.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect current inmates who are close to qualifying under the old rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  2. 2025-07-15 California Legislative Information

    July 15 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  3. 2025-06-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  4. 2025-06-05 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  5. 2025-06-04 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 26. Noes 9. Page 1520.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  6. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  7. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1197.) (May 23).

  8. 2025-05-16 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  9. 2025-04-28 California Legislative Information

    April 28 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  10. 2025-04-17 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 28.

  11. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  12. 2025-04-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 2. Page 709.) (April 8).

  13. 2025-03-27 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 8.

  14. 2025-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

  15. 2025-02-13 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 15.

  16. 2025-02-12 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 356, as amended, Jones.
Parole hearings: use of photographs.
Elderly parole program.
Existing law establishes the Elderly Parole Program for the purpose of reviewing the parole suitability of inmates who are 50 years of age or older and who have served a minimum of 20 years of continuous incarceration on their sentence.
This bill would raise the minimum age limitation for that program to 60 years of age and instead require the inmate to have served a minimum of 25 years of continuous incarceration in order to be eligible for that program.
Existing law punishes specified crimes, including, among others, some forms of murder and rape, with imprisonment in the state prison for life with the possibility of parole. Existing law states that an inmate imprisoned under a life sentence shall not be paroled until they have served the greater of either 7 years or the minimum term set in their sentence. Existing law requires the Board of Parole Hearings to, in considering a parole for an inmate, consider all statements and recommendations which may have been submitted by the judge, district attorney, and sheriff, as specified, and recommendations of other persons interested in the granting or denying of parole.
This bill would require the board to consider in a parole suitability hearing for an inmate imprisoned under a life sentence specified photographs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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