Swimmer's Sex Assault Sentence Spurs Debate Over Prison Plan

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A November ballot measure backed by Gov. Jerry Brown would allow earlier parole for thousands of California inmates to control overcrowding in state prisons and rein in costs.

But critics say it could result in the very situation that led to public outrage in the case of former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner.

The proposal is limited to nonviolent offenders. But in California, "nonviolent" is broadly defined.

It encompasses scores of crimes, including certain rapes and sexual assaults, vehicular and involuntary manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.

Because of that, prosecutors say the ballot measure could mean less time in prison for people like Turner. The one-time Olympic hopeful swimmer was released Friday after completing half of a six-month jail sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman.