AB 2133
Inmate release: notice to victims.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Public Safety
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- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
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- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill changes the law to require that victims, family members, and witnesses be notified at least 20 days before an inmate is released from prison or jail, instead of the current 15-day requirement. The notification can be delivered via telephone, electronic mail, mail, or certified mail, and recipients must keep their contact information current with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or county sheriff. The bill also clarifies that ‘release’ includes parole or probation supervision and escapes.
Key provisions
- Increases the notice period from 15 days to 20 days before inmate release.
- Allows victims to request notification via telephone, electronic mail, mail, or certified mail.
- Requires recipients to update their contact information with the department or county sheriff.
- Defines ‘release’ to include parole or probation supervision and escapes.
- Establishes substantial compliance for notification requirements.
Who is affected
- Victims of crimes
- Family members of victims
- Witnesses to crimes
- Inmates released from prison or jail
- Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Notable changes
- Expands the notification period from 15 to 20 days.
- Clarifies acceptable methods of notification (telephone, email, mail, certified mail).
Arguments in favor
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AB2133:v99#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2133
| Introduced by Assembly Member Johnson |
| February 18, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 646.92 of the Penal Code, relating to crimes.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2133, as introduced, Johnson. Inmate release: notice to victims.
Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, county sheriff, or director of the local department of corrections to give notice not less than 15 days prior to the release from the state prison or a county jail of any person who is convicted of specified crimes, including a felony offense involving domestic violence, or of any change in the parole status or relevant change in the parole location of the convicted person or if the convicted person absconds from supervision while on parole, to any person the court identifies as a victim of the offense, a family member of the victim, or a witness to the offense.
This bill would require notice not less than 20 days prior to the release instead of 15 days.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 646.92 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
646.92.
(a) (1) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, county sheriff, or director of the local department of corrections shall give notice not less than 15 20 days prior to the release from the state prison or a county jail of any person who is convicted of violating Section 646.9 or convicted of a felony offense involving domestic violence, as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code, or any change in the parole status or relevant change in the parole location of the convicted person, or if the convicted person absconds from supervision while on parole, to any person the court identifies as a victim of the offense, a family member of the victim, or a witness to the offense by telephone, electronic mail, mail, or certified mail at his or her the person’s last known address, upon request and using the method of communication selected by the requesting party, if that method is available. A victim, family member, or witness shall keep the department or county sheriff informed of his or her their current contact information to be entitled to receive notice. A victim may designate another person for the purpose of receiving notification. The department, county sheriff, or director of the local department of corrections, shall make reasonable attempts to locate a person who has requested notification but whose contact information is incorrect or not current. However, the duty to keep the department or county sheriff informed of current contact information shall remain with the victim.
(2) Following notification by the department pursuant to Section 3058.61, in the event the victim had not originally requested notification under this section, the sheriff or the chief of police, as appropriate, shall make an attempt to advise the victim or, if the victim is a minor, the parent or guardian of the victim, of the victim’s right to notification under this section.
(b) All information relating to any person who receives notice under this section shall remain confidential and shall not be made available to the person convicted of violating this section.
(c) For purposes of this section, “release” includes a release from the state prison or a county jail because time has been served, a release from the state prison or a county jail to parole or probation supervision, or an escape from an institution or reentry facility.
(d) The department or county sheriff shall give notice of an escape from an institution or reentry facility of any person convicted of violating Section 646.9 or convicted of a felony offense involving domestic violence, as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code, to the notice recipients described in subdivision (a).
(e) Substantial compliance satisfies the notification requirements of subdivision (a).