By:
OVERVIEW REPORT: The Role of Second Look Policies in Reforming California’s Approach to Incarceration 
PRESS RELEASE: New Research on People Released from Prison Under California’s Second Look Resentencing Policies
Over the past 13 years, California has implemented numerous criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing prison sentences, limiting the use of sentencing enhancements, and shrinking the state’s prison population.
Many of these reforms include “second look” provisions, allowing courts to review older sentences in light of new policies, and where appropriate, apply new laws retroactively. The efforts reflect a broader shift toward proportional sentencing, rehabilitation, and more equitable sentences. We present the number of people released from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) custody under each reform, their demographic and case characteristics, and their recidivism rates. For context, we also provide summary statistics and recidivism rates for all individuals released from CDCR custody in fiscal year 2018–19.
This research is made possible through a partnership between the California Policy Lab at the University of California and the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code, a state agency that studies and makes recommendations to improve California’s criminal legal system.
Read full report from California Policy Lab here