2011-10-05 17:47:50.0
Please read the article and my comments I posted in the paper below the article (post #3).
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The family is very fortunate to have Nina Salarno Ashford representing them at the parole hearing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
2011-10-05 17:51:31.0
I am very proud to have worked side by side with Attorney Louise Armstrong who was brutally attacked during a car-jacking and robbery in the City of Anaheim. Please read her story in a trade publication that follows her industry by clicking anywhere on this box. I wish I could tell all my clients and the victim community that things were perfect since we passed Marsy’s Law in November of 2008. It’'s better; but it’s far from perfect. Collectively, we are making a significant difference, one victim at a time. Her attacker was sentenced to 16 years state prison. Once we got coordinated with the deputy district attorney, we worked well together as a team. Despite numerous Marsy's Law violations as outlined in the article, the prosecutor assigned the case for trial did an outstanding job working with me and my Louise. Now that Nolan is in state prison doing 85% of his time because of the strikes he pled guilty to, it is so good to see Louise finally calm and happy.
Congratulations.
2011-10-05 17:46:05.0
When we put together Marsy's Law, our highest order was protecting the victims' family from the numerous parole hearings and to ensure the longest possible times between hearings. - TS
Life with parole about a 20-year term, study says
San Francisco Chronicle
By: Bob Egelko
Friday, September 16, 2011
Inmates serving life with the possibility of parole in California, mostly convicted murderers, spend an average of 20 years in prison and almost never commit new crimes after being released, a new study concludes.
The report by the Stanford Criminal Justice Center at the university’s law school, issued Thursday, also found that the state Board of Parole Hearings has become increasingly willing to set release dates for “lifers” in the last few years. But those dates have often been vetoed by the governor, under a voter-approved law that has parallels in only three other states, the report said.
Release rates are likely to increase, however, under Gov. Jerry Brown. Through April, Brown had overruled fewer than 20 percent of the parole dates approved by the board, which is composed mostly of former law enforcement officers and prison officials. The comparable veto rates were 70 percent for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and 98 percent for Gov. Gray Davis.
ARTICLE LINK
2011-10-05 17:47:15.0
I listened to the Gov's speech today and I even tweeted him about keeping the responsibility for felons who should be sent to state prison in our local jails. I do not like this public policy and think it could back-fire. There are ways to do intervention and rehabilitation while an inmate is in state prison. - TS
Jerry Brown plans initiative to guarantee law enforcement funds
Sacramento Bee
By: David Siders
9/21/2011
Gov. Jerry Brown said this morning he will put on the November 2012 ballot a constitutional guarantee of funding for law enforcement realignment, the shift of certain offenders from state prisons to local control.
“I’m not leaving Sacramento until we get a constitutional guarantee,” Brown told hundreds of law enforcement and local government officials at Sacramento Convention Center.
Brown’s speech came less than two weeks before the state’s shift of some low-level offenders from state prisons to local control. Though the Democratic governor said he will veto any bill to reduce existing realignment funding, law enforcement and local government officials want a constitutional amendment guaranteeing it.
ARTICLE LINK
2011-10-11 08:40:26.0
We have not heard a lot yet from Cathy Thomas, mother of Kelly Thomas. But this article written by Denise Carson portrays a caring and passionate parent who wants to make sure that Kelly's life is celebrated. Every crime victim family member reacts differently to the tragedy of murder. We at Marsy's Law and those of us involved in the crime victims' movement welcome this public portrayal of courage, hope and optimism.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/kelly-321220-cathy-life.html
2011-11-03 23:53:23.0