OC officials violated constitutional rights in jailhouse informant scandal, DOJ concludes.
The Department of Justice has agreed with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Department, finding that they operate a custodial informant program that systematically violates criminal defendants’ sixth amendment right to counsel and 14th Amendments guarantee against due process.
The Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act, AB 2799: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill limiting the use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal proceedings.
“Today, we celebrate an important victory for music creators in the state of California. Silencing any genre or form of artistic expression is a violation of all music people. The history that’s been made in California today will help pave the way forward in the fight to protect creative freedom nationwide,” Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement on Friday.
The SAFE-T Act: An Overview
On January 1st, 2023, the SAFE-T Act will go into effect in the state of Illinois, making it the first state in the United States to abolish cash bail. The SAFE-T Act is an acronym for ‘Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today’. The act is intended to reduce arrests and limit those put away based on the crime. Here is an overview of what the act entails.
What does SB 775 mean in California?
SB 775 means justice for those who have been wrongfully convicted of a killing. The law expands on the legal protections stipulated in Senate Bill 1437, which limits who can be prosecuted for murder and felony murder. Under the new law, attempted murder and manslaughter cases will be eligible for the same legal protections as felony murder cases. This means that 1) only those accused of attempted murder or manslaughter with the intent to kill can be prosecuted 2) no one can be convicted of natural or probable consequences murder 3) the law is retroactive, meaning people convicted of felony murder under the old law can petition for a new trial. This is a major victory for justice in California. SB 775 ensures that everyone accused of a killing receives a fair trial, regardless of the circumstances.
List of California “Serious” Felonies – Penal Code 1192.7(c)
In California penal code, some felony charges are considered strike offenses; the California “three strikes” law doubles prison sentences for those facing 2 violent, or 2 serious felony charges. Below is a list of serious felonies according to PC 1192.7 (c)
New Los Angeles DA George Gascon to eliminate cash bail, won’t seek the death penalty
From: https://abc7.com/george-gascon-lada-los-angeles-county-district-attorney-cash-bail/8592215/#:~:text=LOS%20ANGELES%20(KABC)%20%2D%2D%20George,bail%20and%20the%20death%20penalty LOS ANGELES (KABC) — George Gascón was sworn in Monday as the 43rd Los Angeles County district attorney, announcing sweeping changes to the nation’s largest local prosecutor’s office, including shifts away from cash bail and the death penalty. “We will be the largest office in the nation to eliminate cash bail,” said Gascón. […]
Murder
The state of California uses two classifications to distinguish murder charges. The first – murder in the first degree – refers to any unlawful killing of a human being that was accompanied by malicious aforethought. In other words, the murder was intentional and premeditated or it occurred during the commission of a separate violent crime. […]
