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Senator Dave Cortese has sponsored some critical criminal justice reform efforts over the past term, including the current two year bill SB 300 which would allow for people sentenced to LWOP who were not the actual killers to have a chance at parole.\n\nCurrent California law mandates a sentence of death or life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) for anyone convicted of \u201cmurder with special circumstances,\u201d even if the person did not kill anyone, nor intend for anyone to die. Under current law, if a person dies during the course of certain felonies, even if the death is accidental, those who were involved in the felony are subject to these severe punishments regardless of their role in the person\u2019s death or their intent.\n\n\u201cTwo-thirds of the people on LWOP are people of color,\u201d he said at a recent rally.\n\nCortese said, \u201cHow heartbreaking it must be for a parent every minute of every day of every week, to know that your child, your child has been sentenced to life without parole.\u201d He said, \u201cWhen you take away possibility from a human being, you\u2019ve taken everything. That\u2019s all we have is possibility.\u201d\n\nListen as Senator Cortese talks about this and the future of criminal justice reform, this week on Everyday Injustice.