Sen. Valladares Opposes Parole Confirmations Over Public Safety.

Palmdale, Calif.— State Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-23rd District, voted against the confirmation of five members to California’s Board of Parole Hearings this week, saying she is “disgusted” by recent release decisions involving violent offenders.

In a statement released after the Senate floor vote, Valladares said the commissioners in question had previously ruled that “serial child molesters, kidnappers, and violent sexual predators” were suitable for release. She argued those decisions placed “the interests of violent offenders ahead of the rights of victims and the safety of our communities.”

“Protecting the public is the first duty of government,” Valladares said. “When parole commissioners determine that individuals convicted of horrific crimes against children no longer pose a threat to society, Californians have every right to ask whether the system is still working as intended.”

Valladares also criticized the commissioners for refusing during confirmation hearings to support making their votes public. She said Californians are asked to trust parole decisions without transparency about how those decisions are made.

“I believe victims deserve better. Parents deserve better. Californians deserve better,” she said.

Despite her opposition, a majority of the Senate voted to confirm the five commissioners. Valladares said she will continue pushing for “greater accountability, greater transparency, and a parole system that puts victims and public safety first.”

“When government loses sight of its responsibility to protect innocent people, someone must speak up. I intend to keep doing exactly that,” she said.

Valladares represents California’s 23rd Senate District and encouraged constituents with questions about the issue or needing help navigating a state agency to contact her office.