Over the last several weeks, President Obama has commuted the sentence of nearly 90 inmates, mostly nonviolent drug offenders. His actions have sparked a number of conversations about America’s prison problem and caused many state officials to question whether or not we are doing it “right.” California’s governor, Jerry Brown, recently joined the conversations in … Continue reading
Tag: CriminalLaw
Have questions about how California criminal law could affect your criminal charge? Our San Jose criminal lawyer could help you understand your legal options under the law.
Identity Theft as a Form of Fraud
Fraud may be a common crime, though it is not without victims and not without serious consequence. The idea of “defrauding” someone often brings to mind images of people selling fake Rolexes from open jackets on a dark street corner, but the reality of fraud is much less noticeable, even when it is happening to … Continue reading
Changing Policy Toward Juvenile Crime in California
California has long had one of the strictest policies against juvenile crime in the country, but this has begun to change. As recently as 2010, more than 200 of the state’s youth were locked up, serving life prison terms with no possibility of parole, for crimes that they had committed before they were 18 years old. … Continue reading
The Questionable Legality of Three Strikes Laws
In the mid-1990s, California was among 24 states to enact what would become known as a “Three Strikes” sentencing law. The laws were passed in an effort to curb recidivism rates and rates of repeat offenders. For the most part, these laws provided that a defendant who had been convicted of a serious felony would be sentenced … Continue reading
Three Strikes Law May Be on the Ballot This Year
The California Three Strikes law was imposed in an effort to curb the rate of crimes perpetrated by repeat offenders. In practice, however, it often led to people being severely sentenced for crimes that are usually relatively minor. For example, people whose first two strikes were convictions for felony offenses, such as domestic violence or rape, … Continue reading