Parole hearings: victim attorneys.

Existing law requires the Board of Parole Hearings, among other responsibilities, to conduct parole suitability hearings and determine whether an inmate is suitable for parole. Existing law authorizes the victim, the victim's next of kin, the victim's family members, or two representatives designated by the victim or next of kin, to appear, personally or by counsel, at parole suitability hearings and to express their views concerning the inmate and the case. This bill would require the board, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish a program to provide a victim of a crime, the victim's next of kin, or a member of the victim's family, who has the right to appear at a parole suitability hearing, with compensation for reasonable actual attorney's fees and costs if the person wishes to have an attorney represent them at the hearing and the district attorney's office, or the Attorney General's office, that prosecuted the case will not have a designated representative at the hearing, as specified. The bill would require the board to limit reimbursement to only one attorney per victim per hearing, as specified, and would require the board to limit reimbursement to $900 per victim per hearing. The bill would require the district attorney's office, or the Attorney General's office, that prosecuted the case to provide reasonable notice to the board and to the crime victim, victim's next of kin, or members of the victim's family that they will not be sending a representative to a parole hearing, thereby creating a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.