Crime Victims Action Alliance News

Parole recommended for Manson family member Bruce Davis

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:24:28 +0000

Manson family follower, Bruce Davis, received an effective grant of parole today, January 28, 2010, from a two member panel of the board of parole hearings.

The decision will face review by the board in Sacramento and ultimate re-evaluation by the Governor. A final decision must be made within 120 day of the issuance of the grant.

This decision means that the parole board found that Bruce Davis does not pose a current risk of danger to public safety.

Bruce Davis, 67, has been in prison since 1972. He was convicted in the murders of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald “Shorty” Shea.

“Non-Violent” Parolee Charged with Attempted Murder of Girlfriend

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:22:02 +0000

CVAA has been told that the suspect in this case was on parole for a drug offense, a “non-violent/non-serious” offense. Parolees whose crimes are not considered “violent” or “serious” as defined by law will no longer be placed on parole once released from prison.

North Sacramento ‘cat lady’ beaten, in critical condition

January 24, 2010

From Bobby Caina Calvan

A 50-year-old North Sacramento woman, described by neighbors as the “cat lady,” was in critical condition Sunday night at UC Davis Medical Center after being severely beaten, police said.

The woman’s 35-year-old former boyfriend, who was at her home when police arrived, was being detained for questioning, said Sgt. Norm Leong, spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department.

Neither the woman’s name nor the identity of her former boyfriend was released by police.

Her injuries were due to “trauma to the head,” resulting from being struck with an object, Leong said.

Police said they were summoned to the scene by a phone call at 2:15 p.m., but declined to elaborate on who alerted officers.

Neighbors contacted Sunday night said they heard nothing and were surprised to see police cars in the neighborhood and their neighbor being wheeled out on a gurney.

Norman Silva, who lives next door, said his television was tuned to a football game, its speakers blaring, when the beating apparently occurred.

Though she moved into the neighborhood less than a year ago, neighbors were well acquainted with the victim.

“We just knew her as the cat lady. She was a tiny little thing,” Silva said, describing the woman as a petite brunette.

California Parole Board Approves Release of Baby Killer to Portugal

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:23:03 +0000

Convicted Killer Antonio Pinto will be transferred to Portugal before he has served his term of life in prison.

The California Board of Parole Hearings, on three separate occasions, found that convicted baby killer, Antonio Pinto, was not safe to release back into society. However, with California’s blessing, the federal government will be sending this killer out of the country because he asked to go.

The maternal family members are adamantly opposed to this transfer – but their cries fell on deaf ears.

Neither the prosecuting attorney’s office nor the victims are required to receive notice of foreign prisoner transfers. In addition, neither have the right to have input in the process.

Last year, Annika Ostberg Deasy, sentenced to life for the murder of a law enforcement officer, was released to her native country of Sweden before she completed her prison sentence in the United States. The district attorney and the victim’s family were taken by surprise by the transfer. They were opposed to Ms. Deasy being moved out of a California prison prior to completing her sentence.

The Crime Victims Action Alliance, in partnership with the Alameda County District Attorney’s office, will be working diligently to change the regulations and laws regarding foreign prisoner transfers to include notification to, and input from, prosecutors and victims or the victims’ families.

The facts of this case are disturbing – please note that the following description is graphic.

In the late evening of December 28, 1992, well after she had been put to sleep, a weary four-year-old Jessica cried out to her father from her bedroom. Her call was answered by her father beating her to death.

Antonio Pinto claimed he only remembered a few isolated moments of that evening. He said he remembered spanking Jessica for calling to him after she had gone to bed and then arguing with him. He claimed he remembered also accidentally dropped her in the bathtub due to his weak arms – the side effect of medication he claimed to be taking. He claimed loss of memory to having beaten his four-year-old daughter Jessica to death.

One can only imagine Jessica’s last few hours, filled with fear and pain as she must have cried and begged her father to stop hitting her, asking what she had done wrong and pleading for forgiveness – promising never to be “bad” again.

Jessica’s father did not call 911 for help, even after realizing the severity of Jessica’s injuries from his beatings. Instead, as Jessica took her final breaths, covered in her own blood and vomit, her father began to take steps to cover up her murder.

At 2:00 a.m. he called in sick to work, saying he was suffering from the flu. At 6:00 a.m., when Jessica’s paternal grandfather came to the home to babysit Jessica for the day, Pinto turned him away, telling his own father to go home. Pinto called a neighbor and asked how to clean blood from carpet, and then prepared a detergent solution he used to clean spots of his daughter’s blood from the hallway and bedroom carpets. He also used this solution to clean his daughter’s hair.

It wasn’t until 10:30 a.m. the day after the murder that Pinto called 911 to report his daughter was “having difficulty breathing.” Firemen and paramedics found Jessica on her father’s bed, as he had left her, still covered in blood and vomit. Her body was riddled with over 70 separate fresh bruises, 42 of which surrounded her face and neck. Pinto had beaten Jessica’s buttocks so severely that they were deep purple. The fact that rigor mortis had set in showed that Jessica had been dead for a while.

The pathologist determined the cause of death to be a result of multiple blunt force trauma. Her brain was swollen from hemorrhages caused by several powerful blows Pinto delivered to her head. The sheer number of Jessica’s injuries showed that Pinto inflicted them over some amount of time that night; it took him quite a while to beat his daughter to death. The pathologist’s finding was that all of Jessica’s injuries were sustained while she was alive. When Pinto was arrested for his daughter’s murder, his fists bore the evidence of the beating – they were red and swollen.

Pinto was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life with the possibility of parole.

Jessica’s murder was not an abnormality in Pinto’s character; he had a history of violent behavior. He suffered one prior conviction for brutally assaulting the innocent victim of a car accident that had been caused by Pinto’s friend. Pinto had also physically abused his wife.

Antonio Pinto has appeared before the parole board on several occasions, all of which ended in a denial of parole because the parole board still continues to consider the man too dangerous to release from prison. His last parole hearing was in May 2009 – at which he received a five-year denial.

Jessica’s family was notified in January 2009 that Pinto had applied to be “transferred” to Portugal. The family members are divided in their positions regarding releasing Pinto to Portugal; his parents are in favor while Jessica’s mother, stepmother, grandparents, and other maternal relatives are adamantly opposed.

The family members opposed to the transfer had mistakenly believed that the five-year denial in May 2009 prevented his “transfer.” They learned the “transfer” had been approved when Pinto recently wrote to his son, who also opposes Pinto’s international “transfer.”

Jessica’s family contacted the prosecutor’s office in late December 2009 to find out what they could do to stop the “transfer.” The prosecutors, who had never been notified of Pinto’s application for transfer or its approval, were shocked to hear of the international development. According to California state law, despite the recent advances in victims’ rights, neither the prosecutor nor the victim or the victim’s family have the right to be notified of the “transfer” of a prisoner from the United States to another country.

Why not transfer Antonio Pinto to Portugal?

No Guarantee of Rehabilitation. California inmates are given an opportunity to transfer to a foreign country when it will benefit their rehabilitation efforts. This is usually reserved for inmates who are foreign country nationals and have strong family ties in a foreign country. Antonio Pinto has lived in the United States, with his parents, since he was three years old.

Possible release from prison. There is no guarantee that an inmate will stay in prison once transferred to another country. Antonio Pinto is a violent criminal who has been deemed inappropriate for release in the United States. Transferring this inmate to another country does not change the fact that he is violent and dangerous. In addition, US authorities will have no way of providing counseling or taking other steps to attempt to rehabilitate the inmate before his release. Currently dangerous prisoners should not be allowed to be transferred out of the US until the Board of Parole Hearings determines that they are no longer a risk to public safety. Unfortunately, it does happen.

The victim’s rights are not transferrable. Victims currently have the right to attend Parole Hearings and voice their concerns or support regarding the release of an inmate. Once transferred to a foreign country the victim’s rights can no longer be protected.

No Justice for Jessica. Jessica died as a result of the brutal beating she received at the hands of her father. He was sentenced to an indeterminate term – his release date to be determined by the Board of Parole Hearings if the Board ever determined him to be appropriate for release into society. Jessica’s murderer should stay in custody until the Board of Parole Hearings finds that he will not pose an unreasonable risk to society if released.

Freshman Lawmaker, John Perez (D-Los Angeles), Will Lead California State Assembly

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:22:36 +0000

latimes.com

Democrats select Perez as next Assembly speaker

The freshman Los Angeles lawmaker’s nomination ends weeks of infighting in the caucus. If confirmed in January, the first openly gay Assembly speaker would transition to power in the spring.

By Eric Bailey and Shane Goldmacher

December 11, 2009

Reporting from Sacramento

A freshman Democrat from Los Angeles won the unanimous support of his party colleagues Thursday to be the next leader of the California Assembly, a choice that would make John A. Perez the first openly gay lawmaker to hold the powerful post.

Perez, a 40-year-old former labor union official and a cousin of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, is slated to be confirmed as the next speaker in a floor vote set for early January.

The choice of Perez ended several contentious weeks of infighting among the Assembly’s ruling Democrats — who hold a 50 to 29 edge over the GOP — and came only after his chief rival, Assemblyman Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), agreed to a truce and urged supporters to get behind the rookie lawmaker.

Perez emerged from a closed-door meeting of the Democratic Caucus linking arms with De Leon and current Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles).

He will enjoy the advantage of potentially having up to five years in the post at a time when California is grappling with its worst fiscal crisis in modern times.

The choice immediately drew plaudits from union leaders and gay-rights activists.

Geoff Kors, executive director of the gay-rights group Equality California, called Perez’s achievement “a truly historic opportunity for our state.”

Friends and colleagues say Perez makes an unlikely trailblazer, with a career more focused on helping organized labor and working families than on advancing gay rights.

“It says more about California than it does about me,” Perez said of his stride toward the history books. “It means that California is a place where everybody has a seat at the table.”

Under terms of an agreement hatched with Bass, who helped recruit Perez as successor with her own tenure set to end next year, the transition would take place over the course of several months. Although a formal timetable has not been outlined in public, Perez might not assume full control until sometime in the spring.

Born into a working-class family on L.A.’s Eastside, Perez earned a political science degree at UC Berkeley, and then became a top official with several unions and the California Labor Federation, focusing on political campaigns and government relations. Though he had not held elected office before last year, Perez was appointed to several city, state and national commissions and boards, including the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

Among his Assembly colleagues, Perez has a reputation as an aggressive and savvy political strategist.

SB3 18 – California’s Prison Reform Law – A Threat to Public Safety

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:17:28 +0000

We saw this article on OurLA.org and felt compelled to share it. It provides straight forward, truthful information about the Corrections Package (SB3 18) passed by the legislature that will reform the current parole system. CVAA sponsored SB 440 last year which would have added crimes to the list of serious and violent crimes, as defined in statute. The bill is currently stalled in committee and it is likely to go nowhere this year. In this article you will also read about a huge problem with the section of SB3 18 that defines who can be revoked on parole and sent back to prison. Domestic violence abusers are not on this list. We have reached out to a couple members of the legislature regarding this problem. One never returned our call and we are hoping to discuss this issue further with the other. This must be addressed. It appears that SB3 18 may actually de-criminalize the crime of domestic violence. At the very least, SB3 18 will allow criminals to commit further crimes without being held accountable.

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Caroline Aguirre: CD2 Candidates and the Threats to Public Safety

Written by Caroline Aguirre, Our LA Writer www.ourla.org

Monday, 07 December 2009

I’m a retired parole agent who knows first hand the threat to our safety posed by the early release from prison of more than 25,000 inmates classified as non-violent.

As a community activist, I’ve been bothered during the CD2 runoff campaign between Chris Essel and Paul Krekorian that there is no discussion at forums or in the media about public safety or how the city is going to deal with this parolee release, a third of whom are expected to reside in the LA area.

So, I decided to try to find out the candidates views myself.

It wasn’t easy but after several attempts I was able to reach Essel on the telephone and asked her numerous questions all surrounding public safety issues.

I asked her point blank if she was aware of the difference between a criminal offense classified as violent vs non-violent. I must say I respected her honesty as she acknowledged that she had limited insight in this area.

Essel was completely taken back and surprised when I explained to her that the criminal offense of Domestic Violence was classified as non-violent low level. I told her that it would take victims of crimes organizations members to come forward and demand that our state elected officials change the laws.

I didn’t even have that much luck with Krekorian but after several attempts to reach him I wound up in communication with his press secretary, Jeremy Oberstein.

My objective goal was to find out if Krekorian had a true and accurate understanding of the SBX 3-18, the state legislation he voted for that deals with prison overcrowding, the return to custody of parolees for parole violations, placing parole holds on parolees when requested by various law enforcement agencies and changes in sentencing laws. The bottom line is that it will lead to the early release of thousands of supposedly non-violent, low-level criminal offenders from our state prisons.

I also wanted to know why he considered the changing of sentencing laws surrounding some property relayed criminal offenses but did not consider changing the sentencing laws surrounding Domestic Violence. Felony convictions for Domestic Violence under Penal Code 273.5 pc. under the California Penal Code is classified as a low level non-violent criminal offense.

Oberstein told me that he could not answer any questions surrounding the CD2 upcoming election. I did communicate with two staff members at Assemblyman’s Kerkroian campaign office.

When I asked Oberstein if Krekorian knew which criminal offenses under the California Penal code are classified as violent vs non-violent criminal offenses, I got this answer: “This bill is a common sense approach to reduce prison population without compromising public safety.”

That isn’t my view as a retired law enforcement officer.

To start with, it is rare that individuals are sentenced to state prison for their first felony conviction. Most individuals who are sentenced to state prison have at least four separate previous felony convictions and received probation supervision.

It is only when an individual has received a felony conviction under 667.5 of the California Penal Code ( Violent crime ) does one receive a prison term on their first felony conviction. The inmates getting released early were not convicted under 667.5 thanks largely to plea bargaining that lets them off on violent crimes in order to get a guilty plea to charges classified as non-violent even though violence may have been involved.

For instance, as the law reads now only individuals convicted of felony crimes under 667.5 can be charged with possession of body armor.

In brief SBX 3-18 only addresses the inmates current commitment offenses when assessing for early release from state prison. Exceptions would be those individuals with prior convictions for sex related criminal offenses.

SBX 3-18 does not take into account the inmates prior prison commitments (exceptvfor sexual crimes), violent crimes, review of inmates complete arrest history, noted history of acts of violence, gang membership or association (except for prison gangs) and possession and the use of firearms and other dangerous weapons.

In reality, SBX 3-18 seeks to stop the return to custody of parolees who have violated their conditions of parole. As a result even with cases where the parolee has committed a new felony and the District Attroney’s office has referred the criminal matter for parole revocation determination in lieu of a new criminal filing, the parolee is released from custody and given a slap on the back of his hand.

Even when parolees are arrested on Parolee At Large Warrants the parole holds are removed, parolee is released back into the community and the parole agent has to submit another request for an arrest warrant. Currently the number of parolees in the state of California that are avoiding parole supervision and have no bail warrants out for their arrest is in the neighborhood of 12 -14 thousand if not more.

It’s no secret that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Division of Adult Parole Operations can best be described as one big mess — an organization that has been besieged by the lack of quailified and honest leadership. Many see it as corrupt and practicing the Code of Silence.

State elected officials would rather blame rank-and-file correctional officers and parole agents than hold administrators accountable. They also are prone to look for the easy way out and quick fixes, especially when it involves cutting costs.

Crime fell sharply under the watch of Police Chief William Bratton as the LAPD became more proactive in combating crime and more involved in multi-law enforcement agencies task forces.

But even with the overall reduction of murders and violent crime, there has not been a passing day where we have not heard or read a story about an individual on active parole status involvement in the commission of a violent crime.

Parole and parole supervision has become one big joke.

Parole agents have been encouraged by their supervisors to make advance appointments when conducting home site visits. Reasoning behind this is so that the parole agents won’t observe any signs of a parole violation. Remember parole agents are being instructed not to arrest parolees. State elected officials have openly stated that with the passage of SBX 3-18, the reduction and the amount of parolees being supervised by parole agents will be reduced and thus in the long run the parole agents will be supervising smaller case load.

How can anybody forget or not know about the Phillip Garrido case and the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard?

Just prior to the voting and after the passage of SBX 3-18, California State Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg stated that the Garrido case was a perfect example of why parole agents should be supervising smaller case loads.

This statement by Steinberg is yet another perfect example of an elected official speaking on matters that he knows nothing about and in essense making false statements. Garrido was being supervised on the 40-1 passive sex offender case load. His assigned parole agent only had 40 parolees assigned to him for parole supervision.

Most law enforcement agencies up and down the state of California opposed passage of SBX 3 18 and for good reason.

Just last Nov. 11, Flor Medrano was stabbed to death by a male suspect. The suspect who was shot and killed by police officers was subsequently identified as a ex felon who had spent time in California State prison for Domestic Violence. He was discharged from parole supervision after only one year because Domestic Violence convictions are classified as non-violent low level criminal offenses.

In another case, Scott Thomas, on parole for property related criminal offenses, was arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder after he stabbed two individuals inside a bakery.

Carlos Velasquez on parole for resisting arrest and classified as a non-violent offender was arrested and charged with the murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Abel Escalante

Howard Astorga on parole for possession of controlled substance for sales and classified as a non-violent offender was arrested and charged with the murder of 4-year-old Ricardo Lopez

Charles Samuel on parole for Petty Theft with Priors arrested and charged with the murder of 17-year-old Lily Burk

Salvador Solis on parole for Domestic Violence a non-violent offender was arrested and charged with Kidnapping ,Attempted Rape and Rape.

Two weeks ago, non-violent offender parolee Alberto Alvarez, on parole for Illegal Possession of a firearm, was found guilty of the 2006 murder of Palo Alto police officer Richard May.

The list of paroled non violent offenders committing new violent criminal behavior is endless.

It is essential to review an inmates complete criminal and arrest history prior to early release consideration.

I bring all this up because it is important for all residents of CD 2 to be vigilant whoever wins Tuesday’s election. The same is true throughout the city.

Prosecutors: Oakland man killed girlfriend to cover killing of her son

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:23:40 +0000

Bay City News
November 17, 2009

Prosecutors have charged Curtis Martin III with the murder of 17-month-old Jashon Williams, shown here, and his mother, 23-year-old Zoelina Toney. Toney’s bludgeoned body was found near the Berkeley Marina on Saturday, and the body of a child believed to be Jashon the next day was pulled from the water nearby. JASHON WILLIAMS WAS LAST KNOWN TO BE WITH HIS MOTHER ZOELINA WILLIAMS, A VICTIM OF A HOMICIDE IN BERKELEY ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2009. JASHON WILLIAMS HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED. (Family photo courtesy of Oakland Police Department)

OAKLAND — Berkeley police say they believe Curtis Martin III shot and then bludgeoned to death an Oakland woman because she knew he was responsible for the death of her 17-month-old son.

In a probable cause statement filed in court Tuesday, investigators said Martin, a 38-year-old Oakland man, and 23-year-old Zoelina Toney were involved in a dating relationship for three months prior to the death of Toney, whose body was found in Aquatic Park, along the shoreline east of Interstate Highway 80 in Berkeley, about 4 a.m. Friday.

After Toney was identified via her fingerprints, investigators found out that she had a son, Jashon Williams, and it had been more than three
weeks since anyone had seen him, according to the statement.

Investigators believe that a child’s body that was found near the Berkeley Marina on Sunday, about a mile away from the spot where Toney’s body was found, is that of Jashon based on his race, size and age, the statement says.

However, Berkeley police spokesman Lt. Andrew Greenwood said the Alameda County coroner’s bureau is still continuing its work in officially confirming the child’s identity.

Nonetheless, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday charged Martin with murdering both Toney and Jashon because it believes there is sufficient evidence to support both charges.

Prosecutors also charged Martin with two special circumstance clauses that could result in him facing the death penalty: committing
multiple murders and murdering Toney because she was a witness to the murder of her son.

Assistant District Attorney Tom Rogers said Toney wasn’t necessarily an eyewitness to her son’s murder but authorities believe Martin
killed her because she had information that implicated Martin in his death.

For the purpose of potentially increasing the sentence for Martin if he’s convicted, prosecutors also charged Martin with enhancements for
having two prior felony convictions: a 1994 voluntary manslaughter conviction for the death of the 3-year-old son of his girlfriend at the time and a 1992 conviction for possession of an assault weapon.

Toney’s family members packed the courtroom of Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert McGuiness for a short arraignment hearing for Martin.

McGuiness referred Martin to the Public Defender’s Office to see if it will represent him and ordered him to return to court on Thursday to be assigned an attorney and enter a plea. He is being held at the Alameda County Jail in Pleasanton without bail.

After the hearing, Toney’s aunt, Elowis Windeman, said of Jashon, “That was my baby. We called him Pretty Boy Floyd because he had the prettiest eyes in the world.”

According to the probable cause statement, when Toney’s family members and friends asked her where Jashon was she said he was with “Curt,” which was an abbreviated nickname used by Martin.

The statement says an autopsy conducted by the coroner’s bureau concluded that Toney died as a result of massive blunt force trauma to her head, and gunshot wounds to her abdomen and a possible gunshot wound to the back of her head were contributing factors.

However, coroner’s officials haven’t been able to determine the cause of death of the child found at the Berkeley Marina because it was in a
state of “advanced decomposition,” according to the statement.

The statement says only 10 minutes before Toney’s body was found, a Berkeley police officer on routine parole in Aquatic Park came upon Martin, who was wearing rubber gloves and protective booties over his shoes, possibly to avoid leaving his DNA.

Martin was released from the scene because authorities hadn’t yet spotted Toney’s body but he was arrested at his home in Oakland later on Friday.

The statement says when Berkeley police investigators tried to ask Martin about the whereabouts of Jashon he repeatedly replied that it wasn’t his problem.

Martin was charged with murder for the Feb. 11, 1994, death of 3-year-old Devin Brewer, who was the son of his girlfriend.

The probable cause statement says the cause of the boy’s death was listed as blunt force trauma to the head and his mother reported that he had suffered several burns and blunt force injuries in the weeks prior to his death.

However, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office agreed to a plea deal that called for Martin to plead no contest to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and be sentenced to 11 years in state prison.

When he sentenced Martin on Jan. 9, 1995, Superior Court Judge Larry Goodman expressed frustration at the plea agreement and the light sentence but said he was powerless to change it.

“The laws of this state have somehow tragically ignored for the perpetrators of the most hideous crime, the killing of our most precious
gift, our children,” Goodman said.

The judge said of Devin, “Curtis Martin beat the life out of him.”

Goodman said, “An atrocious mistake has been made in our legal system when a murderer of a child gets a mere slap on the wrist.”

He said to Martin, “Why did you do this? Why did you hit Devin? You are the most vile human being. You are a baby killer. How do you sleep?”

Martin was paroled from state prison on Sept. 7, 2000, after serving only about six years.

However, he had to return to state prison for three short stints for violating the terms of his parole.

Board of Parole Hearings Launches Web Page for Crime Victims Victims Can Now Access Parole Suitability Hearing Transcripts

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:10:36 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Peggy Bengs
November 17, 2009 Cheryl Campoy

(916) 445-4950

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Board of Parole Hearings has launched a web page that allows crime victims to request transcripts for Parole Suitability Hearings of inmates sentenced to life with the possibility of parole.

“Continuing to protect the rights of victims through our criminal justice system is a top priority of my department,” said CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate. “This new web page will make important information more readily available to victims of crime and their families and help to keep them safe.”

Within approximately 30 days upon completion of a prisoner’s hearing before the Board, a transcript of the hearing will be available upon request. Transcripts may be requested by email at no cost by accessing the web page. Alternatively, a copy of the transcript will be mailed for a fee of $25.00. Previously victims were charged per page, which could be costly for transcripts running hundreds of pages, and an electronic version was not available.

If a transcript requested by e-mail is not available in the database — for example, transcripts of hearings that took place in the past and are archived – a fee of $25 will be charged for those as well. The requestor will be contacted if the Board does not have an electronic copy of the transcript and request the fee.

Any persons requesting a hearing transcript must be registered and meet the criteria of a victim as identified through the Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services. The registration form is available by accessing the new web page.

In 2008, California voters passed Proposition 9, the “Victim’s Bill of Rights Act of 2008,” often called “Marsy’s Law,” which expands victims’ rights in parole proceedings for prisoners sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. The law applies to all hearings for the purpose of setting, postponing, or rescinding of life prisoner parole dates. Marsy’s Law, Penal Code section 3041.5 (a) (4) permits the victim, next of kin, members of the victim’s family, and two representatives designated by the victim to request and receive a stenographic record of all proceedings.

Marsy’s Law was named after Marsalee (Marsy) Nicholas, a University of California Santa Barbara student, who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only a week after Marsy was murdered, her mother walked into a grocery store after visiting her daughter’s grave and was confronted by the accused murderer. She did not know that he had been released on bail.

Victims can request transcripts of Parole Suitability Hearings by accessing the new web page at: www.cdcr.ca.gov/Divisions_Boards/BOPH/psh_transcript.html .

# # #

Office of Inspector General Releases Special Report on CDCR Supervision of Phillip Garrido

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:09:54 +0000

After a two month investigation, the Inspector General for the State of California, David R. Shaw, held a press conference today where he released his special report with findings and recommendations on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s
supervision of parolee Phillip Garrido.

It is important to note, as stated in an Associated Press article, that as a parolee, Garrido wore a GPS-linked ankle bracelet that tracked his every movement, met with his parole agent several times each month and was subject to routine surprise home visits and random drug and alcohol tests, according to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Phillip Garrido’s parole supervision was on a 40 to 1 ratio (40 parolees to 1 parole agent).

Below is a summary of the findings from the report.

The Office of the Inspector General finds that
during the 10-year period the department
supervised parolee Garrido, the department:

·Failed to adequately classify and supervise
Garrido.

·Failed to obtain key information from
federal parole authorities.

·Failed to properly supervise parole agents
responsible for Garrido.

·Failed to use GPS information.

·Provides the public a false sense of security
with a passive GPS monitoring program that
falls short of its potential, raising OIG’s
concerns about the department’s current and
future uses of GPS monitoring.

·Ignored other opportunities to determine that
Garrido was violating the terms of his parole.

·Failed to refer Garrido for mental health
assessment.

·Failed to train parole agents to conduct parolee
home visits.

·Missed opportunities to discover the existence
of Garrido’s three victims, including:
o Failing to investigate clearly visible utility
wires running from Garrido’s house
towards the concealed compound.

o Failing to investigate the presence of a 12-
year old female during a home visit.

o Failing to talk to neighbors or local public
safety agencies.

o Failing to act on information clearly
showing Garrido had violated his parole
terms.

To view the executive summary of the report click here.

To view the response to the report from CDCR Secretary Matt Cate click here.

ICAN Foundation Announces New Publication – A Victims Guide to the California Parole Hearing Process

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:47:35 +0000

The iCAN Foundation announces their revolutionary new booklet A Victims Guide to the California Parole Hearing Process. The booklet is filled with valuable information to help victims through the lifer parole hearing process in California. A Victims Guide to the California Parole Hearing Process guides readers through the lifer parole hearing process providing tips on how to dress, what to bring to the hearing, how to write an impact statement and how to be most effective when addressing the Parole Commissioners. Deputy District Attorneys that participate in lifer parole hearings on a regular basis, and other experts in the parole hearing process, contributed to this booklet to make it the most comprehensive of its kind.

A Victims Guide to the California Parole Hearing Process provides additional information to what is currently available through the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The iCAN Foundation is offering A Victims Guide to the California Parole Hearing Process, free of charge, to organizations, agencies and individuals. If you are interested, please send us an email at getinfo@ican-foundation.org with your mailing information or call us at 888-235-7067.

A Victims Guide to the California Parole Hearing Process will also be available on the iCAN Foundation (www.ican-foundation.org) and Crime Victim Action Alliance (www.cvactionalliance.org) websites in pdf format.

Other publications available through the iCAN Foundation

Crime Victim Information Wallet Cards
Dating Violence Wallet Cards
Stalking Wallet Cards
Watch Your Drink Watch Your Friends – Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Information
Brochures
Drink Coasters
Posters
Stickers
PowerPoint Educational Presentation w/facilitator’s guide

Governor’s prison plan would fall short of judges’ demands

Crime Victims Action Alliance — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:18:15 +0000

latimes.com

September 18, 2009 | 4:14 pm

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger intends today to give federal judges a plan to reduce overcrowding that would take three times as long to do as they ordered — and only if state lawmakers approve some of his proposals.

The plan appears to set up a confrontation between the governor and the judges, who have already made it clear they are impatient. If they find that the state’s proposal is a violation of the order they issued Aug. 4 for a prison plan, they could hold state officials in contempt.

The judges could also ask inmates’ attorneys to present their own plan to reduce overcrowding and order the state to implement it.

Schwarzenegger’s plan would take six years, if lawmakers sign off, to achieve the overcrowding reductions that the federal judges have demanded take place in two years. If lawmakers balk at more prison changes than they reluctantly approved last week on the final day of the legislative session, then the state would still have about 10,000 more inmates after six years than the judges have said is reasonable.

In the plan he submits today, Schwarzenegger will combine a proposal to build new prison beds, which would take years to ease the overcrowding that the judges have ruled unconstitutional, and some ways to reduce the number of inmates.

It avoids anything that might be seen as a mass release of criminals.

–Michael Rothfeld in Sacramento