SB 1437, as introduced by Skinner; accomplice liability for felony murder. Existing law defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought. Existing law defines malice for this purpose as either express or implied and defines those terms. This bill would prohibit malice from being imputed to a person based solely on his or her participation in a crime. The bill would prohibit a participant or conspirator in the commission or attempted commission of a felony inherently dangerous to human life to be imputed to have acted with implied malice unless he or she personally committed the homicidal act. Existing law defines first-degree murder, in part, as all murder that is committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, specified felonies, including arson, rape, carjacking, robbery, burglary, mayhem, and kidnapping. Existing law, as enacted by Proposition 7, approved by the voters at the November 7, 1978, statewide general election, prescribes a penalty for that crime of death, imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of parole, or imprisonment in the state prison for a term of 25 years to life. Existing law defines 2nd-degree murder as all murder that is not in the first degree and imposes a penalty of imprisonment in the state prison for a term of 15 years to life. This bill would prohibit a participant or conspirator in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of one of the specified first degree murder felonies in which a death occurs from being liable for murder, unless the person personally committed the homicidal act, the person acted with premeditated intent to aid and abet an act wherein a death would occur, or the person was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with reckless indifference to human life. Existing law, as added by Proposition 8, adopted June 8, 1982, and amended by Proposition 21, adopted March 7, 2000, among other things, defines a serious felony. Existing law, also added by Proposition 8, adopted June 8, 1982, and amended by Proposition 36, adopted November 6, 2012, commonly known as the Three Strikes Law, requires increased penalties for certain recidivist offenders in addition to any other enhancement or penalty provisions that may apply, including individuals with current and prior convictions of a serious felony, as specified. This bill would include in the list of serious felonies the commission of a felony inherently dangerous to human life wherein a person was killed. This bill would provide a means of resentencing a defendant when a complaint, information, or indictment was filed against the defendant that allowed the prosecution to proceed under a theory of first degree felony murder, 2nd degree felony murder, or murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine, the defendant was sentenced for first degree or 2nd degree murder or accepted a plea offer in lieu of a trial at which the defendant could be convicted of first-degree or 2nd-degree murder, and the defendant could not be charged with murder after the enactment of this bill. The bill would provide that the court cannot, through this resentencing process, remove a strike from the petitioner’s record. By requiring the participation of district attorneys and public defenders in the resentencing process, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

The opioid epidemic is killing more than a hundred Americans every day. More than 2 million Americans are addicted to opioid painkillers or heroin, but only 1 in 5 is receiving treatment for their disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Mobile methadone treatment vans have been serving people with opioid addiction in rural towns and underserved inner-city neighborhoods for nearly three decades. Equipped with a bathroom and private counseling rooms, the vans offer low-income residents drug screenings, addiction assessments, and counseling. For many, methadone is an effective addiction medicine that successfully reduces drug cravings and wards off relapse. It is, unfortunately, out of reach of the many who live far from America's approximately 1,500 dispensing locations. Communities need more of these mobile units and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which regulates dispensing of the FDA-approved addiction medicine, has refused to license any new methadone vans since 2007. That’s why state and local addiction agencies and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have requested DEA to rescind the ban. However, the DEA has failed to act. Together, we can ensure that the Drug Enforcement Administration approves the use of mobile methadone units.

Crime victims in New Jersey do not receive the support they need to heal from their trauma. In particular, communities of color are the most harmed and least helped and victims in these communities are left to fend for themselves following victimization.

Around 9:30 pm on the night of Sunday, March 18, Stephon Alonzo “Zoe” Clark was murdered by Sacramento police in his own backyard. Police fired 20 shots while his family inside the home took cover. SacPD questioned his family for several hours about what they heard before his grandmother, Sequita Thompson, dared to push the window curtain aside and saw her grandson’s body. That’s how she found out he’d been killed. Predictably, the Sacramento Police Department has done their best to criminalize Clark. First, they claimed that Clark was armed, but then their story changed and they claimed that he was holding a toolbar. It has since been revealed that the only item found nearby was his cell phone. We know that police lie and criminalize victims in order to shift blame. We cannot trust them to investigate themselves. However, there is body camera footage. Sacramento city council policy dictates that video footage and audio recordings be released within 30 days of the shooting but SacPD Chief Daniel Hahn has promised the council that the footage would be available to the public by the end of the week. We know that video footage clearly demonstrating police misconduct does not automatically lead to justice. A joint investigation between the SacPD and District Attorney Anne Marie Shubert is ongoing but we know that District Attorney Shubert has a pattern of declining to prosecute killer cops who murder Black people. The cops who murdered Dazion Flenaugh and Joseph Mann are free today. We have to let Shubert know that we are watching this case closely, that she cannot let another killer cop get away with murder, and that we want justice for Zoe. We need to demand that charges are brought in this case.

20 shots fired at an unarmed man is NOT being in fear for your life, it is murder!!! No matter how you look at it!!! These monsters are on PAID administrative leave when they should be sitting in jail on suicide watch!!! OUR tax dollars are paying for their time off!!! We MUST all stand up for what's right and do something more then what's being done!!! Mayor of N.Y. promised to reduce the stop and frisk practice and it worked, maybe it's a start ?! I am starting this petition not because I know this young man but because I have a son of my own and am tired of explaining to him the things he cannot do as a young black man, that others take for granted. I now have to explain why he can't play in his own backyard!!! Our kids out here are being hurt and/or dying by the police almost every day, when does it stop?!?!?!

the petition is about clemency and yes im very affected by it my husband who is in eastern correctional facilty has filed for clemency and it has been a year and we have heard nothing yet and i am hoping stating this petiton it will help him to come home its been 13 yrs

A two-year-old baby was murdered in Hawaii and it can be proved, but there are no charges against the killers.

Osceola County Officials have not solved the murder nor charged anyone. The emails received by the mother of the victim shows complete lack of interest in solving this murder.

We, the People living in the City of Los Angeles, have suffered tremendous trauma at the hands of the Los Angeles Police Department for far too long!...It is time we elected our Police Chief instead of accepting whomever the Mayor appoints, which doesn't give us a say in the decision-making process...It is time for change!

Compassion works both ways, and by teaching responsibility, care, and respect, there is so much to be gained and absolutely nothing to lose in trying what has proven so successful across the country.

The failed policy of criminal prohibition has ruined thousands of lives and led to an unregulated, illegal black market. It's time for Maryland to join the growing number of states that have created regulated, legal cannabis industries. We should spend our time and resources on public health responses to drug use, instead of failed strategies that rely on incarceration.

This coming Monday night (March 12th), the Public Safety Committee of the Greene County Legislative body will vote whether to forward this $30,000 feasibility study to a full legislative vote or have it die on Monday night. Abandoning this feasibility study would be irresponsible, especially when NY state has explained to county leaders that much of this money will be reimbursed by the state. We cannot allow our county to burden us with a $52 million dollar jail that is not needed. The state and Columbia County would like us to share a jail and save our taxpayers from near bankruptcy. Let's move this forward and stop the frivolous waste of our money.