Keep Bailing

Nonviolent inmates who are currently in a Los Angeles County jail could serve only 80% of their jail terms.  And, according to department officials, that number could be knocked down to them serving only 50% of their sentences.

So what’s happening here?  LA County Sheriff Lee Baca stated that these early release sentences for inmates may be the future of what’s “inevitable” as the county’s budget crisis continues. The Department currently faces a $128 million budget gap.

Department spokesman Read more »

Some arrestees in Virginia, who can afford to pay their own bail, have been taking advantage of a taxpayer-funded get-out-of-jail-free card that has many in the Va. General Assembly fuming. But opponents say that folks who want to end this law are merely a front for bail bondsmen who seek to line their own pockets by doing so.

It’s called “Pretrial Services” and it allows defendants to be released before their court hearing without bail. Commercial bail bondsmen want to limit this. Bondsmen point out that release on “Own Recognizance” is only supposed to be used by defendants who can’t afford their own bail, but that inmates with means seems are being offered the service – at a cost to the tax payers. Tax dollars should not be used to bail out those who have the means to pay nor should the state compete with private business.

But pretrial services supporters feel someone’s ability to pay a bail amount shouldn’t be Read more »

They can catch flying projectiles in a split second, run faster than lightening, jump higher than a house, hit impossible targets, throw farther than anyone should – and for all of that, they are duly paid a king’s ransom.

But for all their prowess, fame and fortune, more and more sports celebrities are catching more and more of those name and game stealing DUI’s. That’s right. Arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol.  Is it the stress or strain of being under the public eye? Is it the constant pressure to perform? Let’s take a closer look at a few recent sport celebrity DUI arrests.

First up, basketball phenom Read more »

While the search for the girl continues, the search for the individual behind the disappearance of Chelsea King, a seventeen-year-old, straight-A Poway high school student, may be over. The San Diego County Sheriff Deparment says a registered sex offender has been arrested in connection to the missing teen.

John Albert Gardner, 30, of Riverside County was arrested by the San Diego Sheriff Department Sunday afternoon. He is being held without bail at the San Diego Central Jail and is schedule for arraignment on Wednesday.

Chelsea King was last seen jogging in the Rancho Bernardo Community Park on Thursday. Investigators were able to tie Gardner to the crime through physical evidence they discovered during their search of the park.

About 130 law enforcement personnel, including San Diego Sheriff Deputies, Escondido Police, the San Diego Police Department and Read more »

A second Richmond teen has been arrested for his suspected role in a shooting spree that occurred inside a local church, last week. On Saturday night, a Richmond Police officer took the 16-year-old youth into custody on Barrett Avenue during a routine stop. Detectives had issued a warrant for him, and he is now being held at the Richmond Juvenile Hall. Juveniles are not eligible for bail bonds as adults would be. Generally, they are either released to their parents or held at a juvenile detention facility.

Another teen, 15, arrested in connection Read more »

Santa Ana — In continued controversy over early release of inmates, an Orange County Superior Court judge has decided against Sheriff deputy union members, denying their request Thursday to halt the early release of Orange County inmates.

Reportedly, Judge Steven Perk wants the final decision left in the hands of Sheriff Sandra Hutchens stating, “How do I issue an order to the board of supervisors telling the sheriff how to run the jail… if I don’t have jurisdiction over that person, then I don’t have the authority.”

The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs wanted to put a stop Read more »

Reportedly, Oxnard Prosecutor Bill Haney says he intends to file both murder and firearms charges against Jane Laut, 52, the widow and accused killer of 1984 Olympic shot put medalist, David Laut.  Mrs. Lout fatally shot her husband on August 27 in the couple’s Southern California back yard. She was taken into custody on Saturday, February 13, by Oxnard police.

She was arrested without incidence about 9:30 a.m. during a traffic stop near Third and F streets in Oxnard.

Dave Laut, 52, died Read more »

Reportedly, County Sheriff Stan Sniff received the go ahead from his Riverside County Board of Supervisors to hire guards and other staff to run several new cell blocks that were just added to the  Banning jail. The board gave the Sheriff’s Department $12.6 million to do so, after a unanimous vote. This means that 142 new jobs will be available in 2010-11, which is great news for some in a struggling economy.  An additional  $750,000 earmarked for hires was also received by Sniff. 

The Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility, aka “Banning Jail“, upgrades are expected to be finished next month, but until now Sheriff Sniff feared he would not have enough funds to hire these security and administrative personnel, thanks to a former $50 million county deficit.

Now, 45 sworn law enforcement personnel are Read more »

A man who allegedly lobbed firebombs at five different targets in San Diego, including two police stations and a middle school, was arrested after a wild high-speed chase that started in Del Mar Heights and ended in Temecula. San Diego resident Edward Batties, 26, was taken into custody on suspicion of arson, one count of evading a police officer, two counts of burglary and two counts of possession of a destructive device.  He is being held at San Diego County Jail on $160,000 bail.

Why did he go on a firebombing rampage that lasted 36-hours?  Investigators looking at possibilities and following up on leads. Once such clue has surfaced in the form of an entry Batties made on his MySpace page more than two years ago.  On it, he lists among his desires: “blowing the world up.”

Batties’ bizarre bomb spree began Read more »

A Sacramento law intended to reduce overcrowding by granting certain inmates at state prisons and county jails an early release is sparking anger throughout California. The law expands early release credits for state prisoners who complete educational and vocational programs by shaving months off their sentences.  Low-level offenders who leave prison will no longer be monitored by the state, making probation violations an unlikely reason for re-arrest.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill for this law last fall in an effort to ease the state’s crushing budget deficit.  As a result, around 6,500 state inmates are due to be freed this year, to save California $500 million.

At least 18 of California’s 58 counties have applied the law retroactively by giving their county jail inmates additional credits for time already served before it took effect.  This has lead to a huge increase of Read more »