Victims’ families, Senator Roger Niello and statewide law enforcement leaders will host a press conference to support CJLF’s challenge to new state regulations that take effect October 1, 2026

WHAT: Public safety leaders and victims’ families are uniting behind the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation’s (CJLF) challenge to the new California Board of Parole Hearings regulations that create a new administrative pathway for recommendations to recall and resentence incarcerated individuals, including some serving life without the possibility of parole (LWOP).

Founded in 1982, CJLF is a Sacramento-based nonprofit public-interest law organization that uses litigation and policy research to protect public safety and victims’ rights. CJLF, with support from victims’ families and law enforcement leaders, has filed a lawsuit that seeks to prevent the regulations from taking effect, arguing that the Board acted outside the authority granted by the legislature or a vote of the people.

“You got to engage and you got to participate and that means living it all over again and that’s the hard part,” Eric Carlson said about repeated parole hearings for his brother Frank’s killer. Carlson will speak in person at Thursday’s press conference.

WHEN: Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 10:00am PST

WHERE: California Firefighters Memorial, 1350 15th St, Sacramento, CA 95814

WHO:  Opening remarks and moderator: Anne Marie Schubert, President and CEO, CJLF. Speakers include:

·        Morgan Gire, Placer County DistrictAttorney

·        Vanderschoot family, family of 17-year-old murder victim Justine Vanderschoot

·        Senator Roger Niello, Senate Republican Leader-elect

·        Jeannine Pacioni, President, California District Attorneys Association; Monterey CountyDistrict Attorney

·        Estella Hulbert, Kings County mother ofRyan and Zachary Hulbert, whose killer received two life-without-parolesentences

·        Ben Therriault, Vice President, PeaceOfficers Research Association of California

·        Rocklin Police Chief Rustin Banks, here on behalf of California Police Chiefs Association

·        Eric Carlson, brother of FrankCarlson, murdered in San Francisco in 1974

·        Jake Johnson, President, CaliforniaAssociation of Highway Patrolmen

·        *Additional speakers to beannounced

WHY: The CJLF lawsuit contends the Board exceeded its legal authority by adopting regulations that fundamentally alter California’s sentencing framework without authorization from the legislature or a vote of the people. In crafting these regulations, the Board created a process that undermines the finality of sentences and victims’ rights.

The regulations take effect October 1, 2026. The Board anticipates beginning reviews in July 2027 and hearings in July 2028.

VISUALS: Victims’ family members speaking in person alongside law enforcement and prosecutors. Most participants will be available for interviews immediately following the press conference

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