State Policy Shift on Crime Could Impact Inglewood’s Criminal Justice Approach

As California Democratic legislators show signs of supporting stricter incarceration measures, residents of Inglewood and surrounding communities could see significant changes in how crime and punishment are handled at the local level, particularly following the passage of Proposition 36 last fall.

The statewide shift was highlighted last week when Republican Senator Brian Jones’ bill to block sex offenders from being released through California’s elderly parole program received unanimous approval from the Senate Public Safety Committee—the first time in several years such a measure has advanced.

“I don’t think it would have passed a committee last year,” said Jones, indicating a potential change in Democratic legislators’ approach to criminal justice policies.

For Inglewood, where community safety has consistently ranked among residents’ top concerns in recent surveys, these legislative changes could have direct implications for local law enforcement strategies and resources.

“Our community has always sought a balance between effective public safety measures and fair treatment in the justice system,” said Councilmember Regina Williams during an April 15 Inglewood City Council meeting addressing community safety priorities. “Changes at the state level inevitably affect how we approach these issues locally.”

Proposition 36, which increased sentences for some drug and theft crimes, was approved by 65% of Los Angeles County voters last November, exceeding the statewide margin of approval. In Inglewood precincts, support was slightly lower at 59%, according to county election data, suggesting some local ambivalence about returning to stricter sentencing.

The measure partially reversed more lenient approaches approved by voters in 2014, when California first implemented significant criminal justice reforms designed to reduce mass incarceration. Those reforms had particular significance for communities of color, including Inglewood, where residents have historically faced disproportionate impacts from harsh sentencing policies.

Senator Jesse Arreguín, an Oakland Democrat who chairs the Public Safety Committee, acknowledged the shift in approach but emphasized that Democrats don’t intend to return to an era of overcrowded prisons or harsh penalties for lower-level crimes.

“Just focusing specifically on restorative justice and prevention, and not focusing on accountability (for offenders), that’s not where the voters are now,” Arreguín said.

The elderly parole program, which allows prisoners over 60 who have served at least 25 years of their sentences to petition for release, has affected several Inglewood families. Local advocacy groups estimate that dozens of Inglewood residents have family members who have been released through this program since its inception in 2014.

“These policies aren’t abstract for many of our neighbors,” said James Washington, director of the Inglewood Community Justice Coalition. “For families with loved ones in the system, changes to parole eligibility or sentencing guidelines have real, immediate impacts on their lives and their communities.”

Tinisch Hollins, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, believes the shift hasn’t been significant enough to worry advocates of reduced imprisonment. She noted that bills expanding efforts to clear criminal records and apply more good behavior credits are also advancing through the Legislature.

“Even Prop. 36 wasn’t a referendum on reform,” Hollins said. “There’s still plenty of support for different approaches to public safety that really address the root cause and prevent crime from happening in the first place.”

The Inglewood Police Department declined to comment specifically on the legislative changes but noted in a statement that they “continuously adjust strategies based on state policies while maintaining our community-based approach to public safety.”

The California Department of Corrections has released 1,762 people through the elderly parole program between January 2021 and June 2024. Currently, nearly 14% of the prison population—12,303 people—are eligible for some form of elderly parole.

Inglewood community advocates point out that with the state facing budget constraints, significant increases in imprisonment remain unlikely, offering some reassurance to those concerned about a full reversal of criminal justice reforms.

Community members interested in learning more about how these policy changes might affect Inglewood can attend an informational forum hosted by the Inglewood Community Justice Coalition on May 10 at Rogers Park Community Center.

This article draws on reporting by Jeanne Kuang for CalMatters, published April 18, 2025.