PEOPLE V. MATTIS, JEFFREY- On July 8, 2014 Defendant was convicted by jury trial of felony violations of 20 counts of Penal Code section 29800(a)(1), Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Penal Code section 30305(a)(1), Possession of Ammunition by a Felon, Penal Code section 496d(a), Possession of a Stolen Automobile, two Strike Priors, a Prior Prison commitments under Penal Code section 667.5(b), a misdemeanor violation of Health and Safety Code 11377(a), Possession of Methamphetamine, and misdemeanor violation of Penal Code section 21510(b), Carry Switch-Blade Knife. On September 24, 2014 Defendant was sentenced to 16 years 4 months in state prison. On July 5, 2017 the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) notified the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office that a Proposition 57 Nonviolent Parole Release review was set within 30 days. Deputy District Attorney Neumann reviewed the facts of the instant case and criminal history of the Defendant and prepared an opposition to an early release.   BPH has DENIED early release of Defendant and found he poses an unreasonable risk of violence to the community.

PEOPLE V. GREEN, CHARLES- On June 19, 2013 Defendant was convicted of 3 counts of felony violations of Health and Safety Code section 11352(a), Transport and/or Sell Controlled Substances with a Prior Sales Conviction, Health and Safety code section 11351, Possession of Controlled Substance for Sale with a Prior Sales Conviction, a special allegation under Health and Safety code 11353.6(b), Sale of Drugs Near School, and a Prior Prison commitments under Penal Code section 667.5(b). On September 21, 2013 Defendant was sentenced to 13 years 4 months in state prison. On July 5, 2017 the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) notified the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office that a Proposition 57 Nonviolent Parole Release review was set within 30 days. Deputy District Attorney Harbarger reviewed the facts of the instant case and criminal history of the Defendant and prepared an opposition to an early release.   BPH has DENIED early release of Defendant and found he poses an unreasonable risk of violence to the community.

PEOPLE V. THOMPSON, TRAVIS- On May 1, 2015 Defendant was convicted of felony violations of two counts of Penal Code section 29800(a)(1), Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Penal Code section 30305(a)(1), Possession of Ammunition by a Felon, a Strike Prior, two Prior Prison commitments under Penal Code section 667.5(b), and a misdemeanor violation of Health and Safety Code 11350(a), Possession of Hydrocodone. On July 10, 2015 Defendant was sentenced to 5 years 8 months in state prison. On July 20, 2017 the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) notified the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office that a Proposition 57 Nonviolent Parole Release review was set within 30 days. Deputy District Attorney Neumann reviewed the facts of the instant case and criminal history of the Defendant and prepared an opposition to an early release.   BPH has DENIED early release of Defendant and found he poses an unreasonable risk of violence to the community while engaging in recent assaultive behavior in the prison.

 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EARLY PRISON RELEASE UNDER PROP 57
*In January 2015, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation began a new parole determination process after a federal court ordered California to reduce prison overcrowding. As a result, inmates characterized as “nonviolent second-strikers” (NVSS) became eligible for early parole. In November 2016, Proposition 57 was then passed with the promise that “nonviolent” inmates who “turn their lives around” in prison could also earn early parole under a new “nonviolent parole review” (NVPR). The Board of Prison Hearings (BPH) determines whether NVSS or NVPR offenders would pose an unreasonable risk to public safety based on a paper review of prior criminal history, facts of the current commitment offense, behavior in prison, rehabilitation efforts, whether the inmate has any medical condition which might affect the ability to re-offend, and written statements.

Unlike parole hearings - where the prosecution, defense attorney, and victim may appear - there is no public hearing for these BPH administrative reviews.  Additionally, no evidence-based risk assessment is conducted prior to consideration of early release to indicate an inmate’s safety risk.

The Glenn County District Attorney’s Office takes an active role in evaluating NVSS and NVPR cases.  For inmates who appear to pose a danger to the public, the office writes an opposition to BPH with an overview of the inmate’s criminal history and current commitment offense, and an opinion on the public safety risk if an inmate is granted early release.   NVPR cases are especially concerning since prosecutors are denied access to records of the inmate’s behavior behind bars, which is critical to rehabilitation, and do not have a right to appeal an early parole decision.

Many of the offenders who are granted early prison release have violent and lengthy criminal histories.  District Attorney Dwayne R. Stewart feels it is important for the public to be aware of the so-called “nonviolent” offenders being released early from prison into our neighborhoods. 

The above three cases were submitted to the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office for NVPR Prop 57 relief and have been DENIED an early prison release.