Is Criminal Justice Reform Helping Lower the Crime Rate?
Is Criminal Justice Reform Helping Lower the Crime Rate?
In 2010, California began what is being called the “justice reform era.” That is when new legislation, voter-approved initiatives, and court mandates began to make sweeping changes to the state’s justice system. So, is California starting to see the effects of these laws? Recently, a non-profit group Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice released a study of the justice reform era to find out what impact these laws have had.…
Read More
10 Rules Businesses Selling Marijuana in California Must Follow
Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, businesses in California will be able to apply for a license to sell marijuana. Recently, the California Bureau of Cannabis Control, Department of Food and Agriculture, and Department of Public Health released a nearly 300-page rulebook of regulations that new and established marijuana businesses will have to follow if they are issued a license to sell marijuana. Here are the 10 most important rules and regulations…
Read More
California Removes Mandatory Sentence Enhancements for Using a Gun During a Crime
California is strict when it comes to gun laws. For instance, using a gun in any way during the commission of a felony crime carries mandatory prison time. However, this will change when a new law recently passed in California takes effect on January 1, 2018. The law will remove the mandatory prison time for using a gun during a crime. California Ends Mandatory Sentence for Using Firearm During Crime…
Read More
California Bail System is Unfair, According to Report
California’s bail system could soon see significant changes after a year-long study recently concluded with a recommendation that monetary bail be replaced with a risk-based assessment system and supervision programs. In October 2016, California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye established the “Pretrial Detention Reform Workgroup.” The group recently reported the findings of its study, which include the fact that California's money bail system is "unsafe and unfair." Does this mean bail…
Read More
How a Fitbit Could Be Used to Find You Guilty of a Crime
Something about the story did not add up. That was the conclusion police came to after interviewing Richard Dabate shortly after his wife, Connie, was found dead in the couple’s basement. Dabate claimed an unidentified man broke into the home, tied him to a chair, then shot and killed his wife after she returned home from the gym. He claimed he came home from work to get his laptop to…
Read More
Unlocking the Case: Court Orders All Residents of a Home to Submit Fingerprint to Unlock Smart Device
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects you from incriminating yourself. However, the Fifth Amendment does not apply to physical evidence, such as your fingerprint. So, what happens when police ask you to use your fingerprint to unlock an iPad? Do you have to provide your fingerprint to police? According to a recent court case, police have a right to ask you for your fingerprint. Why is providing your…
Read More
Defendants Can’t Gain Access to Private Social Media of Alleged Victims, Court Rules
It is safe to say that most people have an expectation of privacy when it comes to sending messages and information on Facebook. Although posts on your wall and comments may be readily available for the public to see, you probably expect the private messages you send to remain private. So, when you’re the alleged victim of a crime, you probably have the same expectation of privacy. However, this expectation…
Read More
California Moves to Protect Immigrants in Court
Earlier this year, under President Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began keeping a watchful eye on people coming in and out of courthouses, seizing an opportunity to detain immigrants for possible deportation. ICE argued that courthouses made for a safe area to detain suspected illegal immigrants because the security measures at courts help remove the possibility of an armed confrontation. In March, California Chief Justice…
Read More
What We Learned from the 2016 California State Crime Report
The California Department of Justice recently released its annual report on crimes. For the year 2016, several notable trends were spotted. Here is a look at some of the important statistics in the report. Violent Crime Increased for the Second Year In a Row In 2016, violent crimes, including homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, increased by 4.1 percent compared to 2015. There were 8,113 more violent crimes committed in…
Read More
California Could Copy Kentucky to Overhaul Bail System
After you are arrested, the court will typically assign bail. Bail is a monetary payment made by the defendant in order to be released from custody while the case is pending. The money is held by the court as a way to ensure the defendant will show up to his or her court dates. The money will eventually be returned to you if you do not miss any of your…
Read More