Goodbye and Good Riddance: Is This the End of the Felony Murder Law? In California, being an accomplice involved in a murderous crime has always warranted steep legal consequences. Picture this: two men arrive at a gas station with intentions to rob the clerk at the register. The driver stays in the car to secure

New California Laws Increase Transparency in Police Misconduct A pair of new laws is intended to provide increased transparency into police activity. One law will make certain incidents, including police shootings and sexual assaults by police officers, public records. The other law will provide access to police audio and video recordings related to incidents of the

Prop 47: Big Changes in the Criminal Justice System On November 4, California voters went to the polls and voted in favor of Proposition 47, known as the “Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative.” The measure passed with nearly 60 percent approval.[1] According to supporters, the goal of Prop 47 is to “Change the lowest-level, nonviolent

Warrants and Cell Phones The United States Constitution contains various amendments which protect individual rights. One of the most important is the Fourth Amendment which prohibits police officers or other government agents from conducting unreasonable searches or seizures of persons, places, papers, and effects. Generally, for police to search or seize you or your property,