Nov. 2020 Ballot Endorsement: No on 20
Many Californians don’t know that our state Constitution requires that any voter initiative have a single subject: “An initiative measure embracing more than one subject may not be submitted to
The Prefrontal Cortex Strikes Again: Bill to Raise Age for Trying Juveniles as Adults to 20
The Sac Bee reports:A California lawmaker argues that 18- and 19-year-olds aren’t mature enough to do prison time if they break the law, and so she has submitted a bill
On Populism in Criminal Justice Policy, and the Death Penalty Moratorium
Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement of a death penalty moratorium drew critique from supporters of capital punishment who argued that Newsom employed his executive power in a way that flies in the
Moratorium!!! What Does It Mean?
California’s death chamber: closed. Source:Office of the Governor. Today’s stunning, forward-thinking announcement from Governor Newsom requires some careful parsing out. I am on my way to KQED, where I will
Thank You for Your Courage, Governor Newsom
Governor Newsom’s announcement of a death penalty moratorium is a breath of fresh air after decades of stagnation. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in California, 13 inmates have
Barr v. Sessions: A Return to Cheap on Crime?
A short while ago I posted about the bipartisan enactment of the First Step Act, a bipartisan compromise bill offering evidence-based rehabilitation programming and early releases for nonviolent drug offenders. Harkening
The First Step Act: Humonetarianism Alive and Well
When my phone buzzed with a new notification, I felt a bit queasy reading that a new crime bill passed in the Senate was regarded “a victory to Trump.” But
Parkland Shooting: A Month’s Retrospective
It’s been a month since the horrific shooting at Parkland, and today students nationwide are walking out in memory of the victims and in protest of state and federal inaction
Who Is a “Violent Offender?” Amending Prop. 57 and Other Populist Adventures
In the last couple of years, several people–John Pfaff, Christopher Seeds, yours truly–have commented on an important feature of criminal justice reform: it consistently makes a distinction between “violent” and
Are You Against the Death Penalty? Good. Then Vote Against the Death Penalty.
It’s no big surprise that the Prop 62 campaign, which calls for the death penalty repeal, is working hard to build a coalition across political lines. Because of that, the