California has halted its court-ordered medical parole program, opting to send critically ill inmates back to state prisons or release them early. This decision has sparked protests from attorneys representing prisoners and the author of the state’s medical parole legislation, who argue it endangers vulnerable individuals. Medical parole was designed for prisoners with significant, permanent conditions that leave them unable to care for themselves.
Sara Norman, an attorney involved in a longstanding federal class-action lawsuit, expressed concerns about the state’s ability to meet the needs of these prisoners, especially those with cognitive impairments. According to News Medical, about 20 parolees have been returned to prison, many requiring assistance with basic daily functions.
The program’s suspension comes as California Correctional Health Care Services spokesperson Kyle Buis announced plans to increase the use of compassionate release, which reduces sentences and releases prisoners into society. Governor Gavin Newsom cited cost-saving measures as a factor in the decision, emphasizing the elimination of non-essential activities and contracts.
Mark Leno, who authored the medical parole law, criticized the decision to end the program without legislative approval, calling it “perfectly inhumane.” The state has built memory care units within prisons, but advocates argue these are insufficient compared to outside facilities.
The decision reflects broader challenges in managing aging prison populations, with medical parole laws rarely used across the U.S. due to eligibility and procedural hurdles. As California Healthline reports, nearly 300 prisoners had been granted medical parole since 2014, but the program’s cost and federal reimbursement issues have been ongoing concerns.
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