Spitzer Law Blog

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/oct/25/efforts-underway-ballot-measure-end-death-penalty

By Todd Spitzer:  The solution to the death penalty is not to abolish it; that has been the agenda by some for years. Now they are using the inefficiency of the system--more than 25 years of delay and appeals--to call for life without the possibility of parole. The solution: allow the Courts of Appeals to hear death case appeals; not just the CA Supreme Court which has original jurisdiction. This idea was first floated by Justice George while I was still in the Legislature in 2008. 

http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/10/27/state-placed-children-in-homes-with-sex-offenders/119363/

http://www.ocregister.com/news/says-323818-jacobs-victims.html#article-comments

By Todd Spitzer: Why does it always take a mass crisis like this or Columbine, for example, for the media and the public to write about the trauma and devastating impact of crime on victims and the community? Almost every victim of crime is devastated by the impact to their lives. That's why we wrote Marsys Law and groups like Crime Survivors exist. When the justice system revictimizes victims, there is little hope that the victim will recover. That's why I represent crime victims in our courts, www.spitzerlawoffice.com. To ensure victims get justice and respect and dignity.
 

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/22/3998972/when-life-is-too-long-debate-over.html

By Todd Spitzer: So when a murder who takes the life of another human being is spared death for life without the possibility of parole and turns 50 we should just ignore the original crime and say "Geez, you are older now , so your youthful uncontrolled urges to kill now require an exit path to a free society with a letter of apology. Geez. Let's ask @marsylaw and @pomc and @crimesurvivors what they think of that!
 

By Todd Spitzer: Some District Attorneys have been very vocal about the effects so called "Realignment" will have on public safety.  When I was the Chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Prison Construction and Operations I repeatedly warned that failing to deal with prison overcrowding as a STATE responsibility will have dramatic impacts on public safety.  The interview with DA Phil Cline shows that he agrees.  He shares his concerns.  One thing we know for sure: costs to local government will increase dramatically while the impact of realignment will cause more crime in our precious communities.

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20111015/OPINION09/110150322/DA-Phil-Cline-More-crime-more-criminals-more-cost?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

Viewpoint: Will there be increased costs to your department? And how will you balance that? What happens if state money runs out?

Cline: There will be increased costs to the District Attorney's Office. Most serious commentators expect local crime to increase. As crime increases, prosecution caseloads will increase. Realignment means that convicted felons will stay local. That means additional costs.

It is anticipated that because of a lack of local jail capacity, felons not sentenced to state prison will receive minimal local jail sentences or none at all. If so, they will be returned to the street to commit more crimes. If they continue to commit crimes, it will be necessary to prosecute the offender multiple times instead of only once as it was before realignment and there was a potential state prison sentence.

There will also be less incentive for criminals to plead guilty to their crimes because the prospect of appropriate punishment will be diminished. That will usually mean more motions, more hearings and more trials. And that means more costs.

It is clear what will happen "if state money runs out." Crime in local communities will return to the epidemic levels of the 1970s.