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California Parole Board Members Removed Over Sex Offender Decisions
Confirmed
In Short: Two California parole board members were removed after approving the release of sex offenders, sparking a debate on transparency and political influence.
California's Senate leader has removed two parole board members following a public backlash over their decisions to release sex offenders, according to reports. Patricia Cassady and Teal Kozel, who had served on the Board of Parole Hearings for nine and three years respectively, were dropped from their positions in June.
Republican lawmakers in the state Legislature have drafted bills calling for more transparency in parole board decisions and changes to the elderly parole system, which allows certain offenders over age 50 to seek release. The move to remove Cassady and Kozel was seen as a way to protect Democratic senators from making difficult public votes and prevent Republican lawmakers from using the issue for political gain.
Both Cassady and Kozel expressed frustration with the process, stating that the Senate Rules Committee should have publicly considered their reappointments, similar to the five other commissioners who were ultimately confirmed. 'It communicates to parole commissioners and other decisionmakers that if you do something that is not popular, even if it’s the right decision, there are costs to you in your career,' said a Senate leader.
California’s 21-member parole board assesses whether eligible prisoners are safe enough to be released back into the community under state supervision. The board’s decisions can have significant public impact, especially in cases involving sex offenders. The removal of Cassady and Kozel highlights the political pressures faced by parole board members and the potential consequences of their decisions.
Following their removal, Cassady has since retired, while Kozel has returned to her former position as a senior psychologist supervisor with the board. The incident has sparked a broader debate on the transparency and accountability of parole board decisions, particularly in cases involving sex offenders.
What's confirmed
- The leader of California’s Senate effectively removed two commissioners from the state’s Board of Parole Hearings this June after releases they granted caused a public backlash.
- The commissioners, Patricia Cassady and Teal Kozel, had already served nine and three years on the board respectively when they separately approved for release David Funston and Gregory Vogelsang, each of whom was serving a life sentence for sexual crimes committed against Sacramento-area children in the 1990s.
- Republican lawmakers in both houses of the state Legislature drafted bills calling for more transparency about commissioners’ decisions and changes to the elderly parole system, which allows certain offenders over age 50 to seek parole.
- Both women told CalMatters they felt the Senate Rules Committee should have publicly considered their appointments as they did for the five other commissioners who were ultimately confirmed.
- “It communicates to parole commissioners and other decisionmakers that if you do something that is not popular, even if it’s the right decision, even if it’s consistent with the law, even if it protects public safety, then there are costs to you in your career,” he said.
- Newsom said in February that he disagreed with the board’s decision to release Funston and sent the case back to the full board for another review.
- Instead of bringing their nominations up for consideration as is typical, Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, opted to shelve Cassady and Kozel’s reappointments to the board when it considered the nominations of five other commissioners who were seen as less controversial, senators Caroline Menjivar and John Laird confirmed to CalMatters.
- The move protected Democratic senators from having to make difficult votes in public about whether to retain Cassady and Kozel, and prevented Republican lawmakers from capitalizing on the intrigue of sex crimes to gain political capital, a technique they’ve used repeatedly over the past few years.
What's still developing
- Two parole board members who authorized the release of men convicted of sex crimes were ousted after Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón declined to take up their appointments.
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