California's Early Release Credit System Under Scrutiny After Sacramento Mass Shooting
California voters passed Proposition 57 to incentivize rehabilitation by letting inmates earn early release credits for good behavior and lose them for bad behavior. However, critics say violent felons are being released early without earning credits and often reoffend. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) lacks transparency, making it unclear how some inmates earn enough credits to be released. This issue was highlighted by the 2022 Sacramento mass shooting suspect, Smiley Martin, who would have been in prison if he served his full sentence. Ongoing reporting has led to new legislation requiring CDCR to disclose early release credits and notify District Attorneys with 30-day notice before releases.