Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that California must reduce the number of people in its prisons by over 30,000 in order to correct prisoners’ rights violations within the prison system, according to an article in The Orange County Register.
The court ruled 5-4 that, in their current overcrowded state, California’s prisons violate inhabitants’ Constitutional rights. Despite concerns about “terrible things sure to happen” voiced by Justice Antonin Scalia, the court has ruled that California must address the overcrowding, leaving corrections officials to figure out how to do so.
In Orange County, the Sheriff’s Department has considered moving some people out of prison and into the county jails. Currently, about 1,600 beds are available in county jails, which the county leases to the federal government, which uses it to house people convicted of federal crimes. It is cheaper for the state, however, to keep those convicted of state crimes in county jails rather than in prison.
California is also considering building more prisons and shipping prisoners out of state to live in prisons in Arizona, New Mexico, and other nearby states. No final decisions have yet been made.
California residents who are convicted of a crime still have Constitutional rights, regardless of the nature of the crime or how much prison time is required. The best defense when charged with any crime in California, however, is to hire an aggressive and experienced Orange County criminal defense attorney like those at The Law Offices of Jeremy N. Goldman. To learn more, call us today at 1-800-349-1619.
The L.A. Times recently reported that a serial killer had been convicted for five murders committed in the 1970s. The convicted man, a former photographer and onetime contestant on “The Dating Game,” chose to proceed without criminal defense counsel. He represented himself in a trial that began in January 2010. The jury convicted him of the murder of five different women. At his sentencing, the jury sentenced him to death for the killings despite his request that they sentence him to life in prison without parole.
The man had been convicted of one of the murders, the death of a twelve-year-old girl last seen riding her bike to ballet class in June 1979, on two previous occasions. Misconduct on the part of the prosecution and the judge in each of the previous cases lead to those sentences being overturned. He had also been charged with the murder of a second victim in 1980, but the district attorney was forced to drop the charges after it learned a key witness had committed perjury.
Criminal trials always carry a risk of mistakes, confused or lying witnesses, or misconduct. An experienced criminal defense attorney is a necessity in a criminal trial. Such an attorney will fight vigorously to protect the rights of the defendant against pitfalls like coerced confessions, improper evidence, lying or biased witnesses, or misconduct by the prosecution. An experienced Santa Ana criminal defense attorney will fight to ensure you receive a fair trial in which your rights are respected.
If you have been accused of murder or manslaughter, call a skilled Orange County murder defense lawyer by contacting the Law Offices of Jeremy N. Goldman. We will stand beside you throughout the legal process, fighting to defend your rights and working hard to achieve a positive outcome in your case. Call Jeremy N. Goldman today at (949) 622-5417 to schedule a free and confidential consultation or visit www.jeremygoldmanlaw.com for more information.
Source:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/03/serial-killer-rodney-alcala-sentenced-to-death-.html#more
California state election officials announced recently that an initiative to legalize small amounts of marijuana for personal use will appear on the November ballot. According to an LA Times story, supporters of the plan collected over 500,000 signatures supporting the initiative – nearly 100,000 more than were required to place the initiative on the ballot.
The initiative, if passed, will allow adults 21 years of age or older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use. Cities and counties in California would be allowed to pass regulations controlling the sale and distribution of marijuana within their borders, including passing taxes on marijuana to raise revenues.
A coalition has formed to oppose the initiative, including a number of California law enforcement associations. Law enforcement officials fear that legal marijuana use will lead to the same social problems as excessive drinking, putting an additional strain on police resources. In addition, they note that many people are uncomfortable with the idea of widespread marijuana use. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the success of medical marijuana use in California demonstrates that personal marijuana use will be equally orderly. Also, supporters note that no longer having to investigate and arrest people for marijuana use will free up police resources to focus on more dangerous and disruptive crimes.
Currently, possession of one ounce of marijuana or less is a misdemeanor in California, punishable by a $100 fine. Although the overwhelming majority of such possessions are nonviolent, the criminal record resulting from the peaceful use of marijuana has resulted in social stigma and loss of opportunities for many Californians.
Drug charges of any kind call for the skills and experience of a practiced Orange County marijuana drug crime defense attorney. If you are facing drug possession charges, please don’t hesitate to contact the attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeremy N. Goldman. Our skilled criminal defense attorneys will examine the details of your case and work hard for a positive outcome. Contact Jeremy N. Goldman today for a free consultation by calling (949) 622-5417 or visit www.jeremygoldmanlaw.com for more helpful information regarding your particular case.
Source:http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marijuana-initiative25-2010mar25,0,4756689.story
