California Resentencing Guide

About the Authors 

Drop LWOP Coalition 

The Drop LWOP Coalition works to end Life Without Parole sentencing in California. Our goal is to afford relief to those currently serving this sentence, no matter the conviction, through legislative change, commutations, pardons, resentencing, and public awareness about the injustice of the LWOP sentence.

UC Berkeley School of Law Criminal Law & Justice Center (CLJC)

CLJC is a hub for research, education and advocacy. Blending a data-driven approach with zealous advocacy, the center offers empirical insights into the intricacies of the legal system and policy outcomes. We harness the wealth of perspectives, experiences and expertise that our students and faculty bring to bridge the gap between scholarship and real world impact. 

Important Note regarding Resentencing and the Racial Justice Act (RJA)

Attorneys working on RJA implementation note that the Attorney General’s Office has argued that if someone is before the court for a resentencing after 2021 and they do not raise the RJA, they’ve forfeited their RJA claims. If you are pursuing resentencing please consult with your attorney/advocates about whether it’s important for you to raise any RJA issues.