In 2013, at age 38, PCJP Edel Gonzalez was considered for (and eventually granted) parole as the first inmate under a new law to have his life sentence reduced for a crime he committed as a juvenile. Governor Jerry Brown signed the California law that allows inmates similar to Gonzalez, who were sentenced as minors, to request that judges reassess their terms. This law comes after the U.S. Supreme Court deemed sentences of life in prison for minors unconstitutional. Hundreds of inmates in California could be qualified to ask judges to reduce their sentences under this new law. This ABC7 coverage of Edel Gonzalez’ resentencing demonstrates the impact of the new law on the lives of inmates hoping for a second chance.
