Support Review of Denied Resentencing Petition in Solano County Under AB600
The Issue
This petition arises from a deeply personal cause. Jovan Strong, an unarmed accomplice in a robbery gone wrong, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison under the stringent felony murder law, a law which has since faced significant revisions. In 2008, he was unfortunately involved in a crime where a partner, unknown to him, would shoot and kill the victim, Surinder Kumar, a liquor store clerk in Vallejo, CA. All evidence reinforces the fact that Jovan had no knowledge, nor did he agree with this devastating outcome, yet he still bears the heaviest punishment.
Senate Bill 1437
A decade later, California revised the Felony Murder Law, resulting in Senate Bill 1437 coming into effect, seeking to provide some relief to individuals unintentionally involved in homicide during the commission of a felony. In the years since the SB1437 came into effect, countless people have had their lives improved because the new law carried out justice more fairly.
Jovan, completely unaware and unprepared for his partner's deadly act, falls precisely under this category of individuals for whom the law was revised. However, in 2020, the Solano County Superior Court wrongfully denied his SB1437 appeal for resentencing, disregarding the clear-cut evidence that he had not acted with "reckless indifference to human life", a key criterion for first-degree murder under the changed law. We are, therefore, seeking support to force a re-evaluation of this decision.
Senate Bill 775
Since the denial of his SB1437 petition for resentencing, California enacted SB775 to clarify on issues related to judicial abuses of discretion on resentencing petitions. In the same period, several cases have been decided by the California Supreme Court which provide even more precedent to resentence Jovan based on his individual case factors, particularly regarding his youth at the time of the crime. However, rather than submit what would've been his fifth appeal, this time under SB775, he instead opted to file a simple request for resentencing under Assembly Bill 600.
Assembly Bill 600
AB600 is a resentencing law enacted in 2024 that gives discretion to trial judges to resentence prisoners who meet certain criteria, such as: (1) youth at the time of the crime, (2) documented childhood trauma, abuse, and/or neglect, (3) disciplinary record since imprisonment, (4) and exceptional record of positive programming in prison, such as college, substance use treatment, vocations, etc.
Under the new law, prisoners can request to be resentenced "in the interest of justice" based on the factors just mentioned. However, a trial judge is not required to respond by either granting or denying a request. It is totally at the discretion of the trial judge to either grant or deny, respond or ignore, or delay any of these actions whatsoever for as long as he/she wants.
Jovan submitted his detailed request to judge Donna Stashyn early in 2024 but has recieved no response as of August the same year. Attached to his formal request was evidence of his exceptional behavior and accomplishments since imprisonment, including: (1) state credential as registered Addiction Counselor effective 2023, (2) last rules violation report was in 2018, (3) remorse letter, (4) relapse prevention plan, (5) support letters from interested employers in the addictions treatment field, (6) college units, (7) computer technology vocation, (8) coauthored rehabilitative programs, and more.
Presently, Jovan works under DRP (Division of Rehabilitative Programs) as a Group co-Facilitator alongside counselors with Amity Foundation, an outside contractor of addiction treatment services. Additionally, Clinical Supervision is provided by Options Recovery Services, a partner organization.
With the "good/work time credits" already earned through his dedicated approach to self-development and modeling personal growth within CDCR, his MERD (most earliest release date) has steadily shifted closer in tiny increments that slowly accumulate. So regardless of the court's inattention and/or inaction, his homecoming is presently projected for 2028, or 3 1/2 years longer, totaling twenty years served.
By signing this petition, you seek to influence either the Solano County Superior Court to reconsider its decision, or for the Governor of California to commute his sentence, giving him the chance that the new law rightfully allows. Stand with us today to ensure justice is justly delivered. Please sign this petition and help to free Jovan, an asset to our outside community. Your voice will resonate in the name of transformative justice and the power of making amends.
P.s.
Jovan cofounded a publication that recently released its first edition in 2024.
Description: The Inside Bulletin is the independent publication of nonprofit media organization Kufisnapback, dedicated to heightening and sharping community understanding of the drug addiction and overdose crisis in America, including the related areas of: trauma, immigration, childhood neglect, incarceration and criminal justice, popular culture, treatment resources and more.
Donate at Givebutter.com/kufisnapback
Purchase at https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2870158
Follow at Instagram.com/kufisnapback_tv
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The Issue
This petition arises from a deeply personal cause. Jovan Strong, an unarmed accomplice in a robbery gone wrong, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison under the stringent felony murder law, a law which has since faced significant revisions. In 2008, he was unfortunately involved in a crime where a partner, unknown to him, would shoot and kill the victim, Surinder Kumar, a liquor store clerk in Vallejo, CA. All evidence reinforces the fact that Jovan had no knowledge, nor did he agree with this devastating outcome, yet he still bears the heaviest punishment.
Senate Bill 1437
A decade later, California revised the Felony Murder Law, resulting in Senate Bill 1437 coming into effect, seeking to provide some relief to individuals unintentionally involved in homicide during the commission of a felony. In the years since the SB1437 came into effect, countless people have had their lives improved because the new law carried out justice more fairly.
Jovan, completely unaware and unprepared for his partner's deadly act, falls precisely under this category of individuals for whom the law was revised. However, in 2020, the Solano County Superior Court wrongfully denied his SB1437 appeal for resentencing, disregarding the clear-cut evidence that he had not acted with "reckless indifference to human life", a key criterion for first-degree murder under the changed law. We are, therefore, seeking support to force a re-evaluation of this decision.
Senate Bill 775
Since the denial of his SB1437 petition for resentencing, California enacted SB775 to clarify on issues related to judicial abuses of discretion on resentencing petitions. In the same period, several cases have been decided by the California Supreme Court which provide even more precedent to resentence Jovan based on his individual case factors, particularly regarding his youth at the time of the crime. However, rather than submit what would've been his fifth appeal, this time under SB775, he instead opted to file a simple request for resentencing under Assembly Bill 600.
Assembly Bill 600
AB600 is a resentencing law enacted in 2024 that gives discretion to trial judges to resentence prisoners who meet certain criteria, such as: (1) youth at the time of the crime, (2) documented childhood trauma, abuse, and/or neglect, (3) disciplinary record since imprisonment, (4) and exceptional record of positive programming in prison, such as college, substance use treatment, vocations, etc.
Under the new law, prisoners can request to be resentenced "in the interest of justice" based on the factors just mentioned. However, a trial judge is not required to respond by either granting or denying a request. It is totally at the discretion of the trial judge to either grant or deny, respond or ignore, or delay any of these actions whatsoever for as long as he/she wants.
Jovan submitted his detailed request to judge Donna Stashyn early in 2024 but has recieved no response as of August the same year. Attached to his formal request was evidence of his exceptional behavior and accomplishments since imprisonment, including: (1) state credential as registered Addiction Counselor effective 2023, (2) last rules violation report was in 2018, (3) remorse letter, (4) relapse prevention plan, (5) support letters from interested employers in the addictions treatment field, (6) college units, (7) computer technology vocation, (8) coauthored rehabilitative programs, and more.
Presently, Jovan works under DRP (Division of Rehabilitative Programs) as a Group co-Facilitator alongside counselors with Amity Foundation, an outside contractor of addiction treatment services. Additionally, Clinical Supervision is provided by Options Recovery Services, a partner organization.
With the "good/work time credits" already earned through his dedicated approach to self-development and modeling personal growth within CDCR, his MERD (most earliest release date) has steadily shifted closer in tiny increments that slowly accumulate. So regardless of the court's inattention and/or inaction, his homecoming is presently projected for 2028, or 3 1/2 years longer, totaling twenty years served.
By signing this petition, you seek to influence either the Solano County Superior Court to reconsider its decision, or for the Governor of California to commute his sentence, giving him the chance that the new law rightfully allows. Stand with us today to ensure justice is justly delivered. Please sign this petition and help to free Jovan, an asset to our outside community. Your voice will resonate in the name of transformative justice and the power of making amends.
P.s.
Jovan cofounded a publication that recently released its first edition in 2024.
Description: The Inside Bulletin is the independent publication of nonprofit media organization Kufisnapback, dedicated to heightening and sharping community understanding of the drug addiction and overdose crisis in America, including the related areas of: trauma, immigration, childhood neglect, incarceration and criminal justice, popular culture, treatment resources and more.
Donate at Givebutter.com/kufisnapback
Purchase at https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2870158
Follow at Instagram.com/kufisnapback_tv
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Petition created on August 1, 2024