A new parole board policy set to take effect in California is facing a fierce legal challenge and widespread condemnation from victims’ families, including those connected to the Laci Peterson case, as it could pave the way for the resentencing or clemency of serial killers, mass shooters, and other inmates serving life without parole. Anne Marie Schubert, former Sacramento District Attorney and CEO of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation (CJLF), which filed a lawsuit against the policy, argues the board has overstepped its legal authority by creating a review system for those serving life sentences without parole, a move allegedly violating Marsy’s Law, which supports the finality of judgments for victims. The lawsuit highlights cases of notorious offenders like Scott Peterson, Darryl Lamar Collins, and individuals convicted of killing police officers and children, emphasizing that these are the ‘worst of the worst’ whose sentences were intended to be absolute. Laci Peterson’s mother, Sharon Rocha, expressed deep distress, stating that her family believed Scott Peterson’s life-without-parole sentence offered certainty, and that victims should not have to endure the ongoing trauma of potential release for those who committed heinous crimes. Kim Juarez, a close friend of Laci Peterson, echoed this sentiment, describing the legal battles and potential policy changes as a constant reopening of wounds, and that the possibility of Peterson’s freedom, however remote, is terrifying, overshadowing cherished memories of Laci and her unborn son Conner. The CJLF contends the board is attempting to circumvent legislative intent and voter-approved initiatives like Marsy’s Law, which aimed to curb prolonged suffering for victims by ensuring finality in sentences, while the board maintains that existing statutes grant them the discretion to evaluate such cases for recommendation.
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