California Criminal Defense Lawyers

The United States is the only country in the world that sentences children to life without parole. In California, about 290 people are serving life sentences for offenses they committed as juveniles. A new bill would give some of these inmates a route to potential release, if they can prove their mind has matured since the time of their crime. [Read More...]

A survey from the LA Times and the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences this week reveals Californians are more concerned about the troubled financial times than they are about releasing some offenders from prison. The survey showed most would rather see prison sentences be relaxed than spend any more money on incarceration. [Read More...]

Since the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 last week that California must work to release 33,000 inmates over the next two years, there have been many vocal opponents. Most of their complaints are centered on fear that the release will cause crime rates to soar and general mayhem to ensue. This week in the Statesman Journal, one such critic has warned the people of California to get ready for the unavoidable “crime wave”. [Read More...]

Three advocacy groups are putting the pressure on Governor Jerry Brown to make some major changes that would both reform sentencing and save the state some much needed money. According to California Watch the groups are basing their recommendations on what they say the public wants. [Read More...]

Last year, the United States Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile to life without any chance of parole. Now, the California state supreme court will visit a case, trying to determine if three lengthy sentences adding up to 110 years would be barred under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling. [Read More...]

A survey of California voters indicates the state’s residents are ready for some meaningful drug possession laws reform. But the question is, will the lawmakers back their constituents’ wishes? To the extent that voters indicate they want things changed, it isn’t likely. But after last year’s close call with Proposition 19, the air of change is definitely upon us. [Read More...]

The Second District court of Appeals in Los Angeles this week ruled that the parole board can’t withhold parole privileges from someone they would otherwise grant release to simply because they maintain their innocence of the original crime. The case involved a man convicted of the murder of his girlfriend, a man who still maintains he was wrongfully convicted. [Read More...]

Facing a challenge nearly every governor across the nation is simultaneously addressing, Governor Jerry Brown is proposing deep cuts in funding across the state government in an attempt to bring costs down. But one area he’s not cutting any funds from is the state corrections budget and the Sacramento Bee published a call to action for Brown this week, urging him to address sentencing in an effort to reduce prison overcrowding and ultimately costs. [Read More...]

Three strikes and you’re out! This saying took on a whole new meaning within California in the 1990’s. It went from something you would only hear at a baseball game to terms used to describe criminal sentencing and essentially locking people up and throwing away the key.  Passed in 1994 by the legislature and the people of California, the Three Strikes Law has done more to increase spending and controversy than it has to reduce crime. [Read More...]

The Corral Canyon Fire of 2007 was the worst Malibu had seen in over a decade. People had to flee their homes in the dark of night, leaving everything behind. In all, fifty three homes were destroyed.

Two men were sentenced this past week for contributing to the disastrous blaze. Each were sentenced to a year, a good portion of which has already been served.  [Read More...]