Legal Commentary

Schwarzenegger Giveth and Taketh Away

By Jeralyn

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed 21 bills into law yesterday. Some were good for liberty, some were bad.

The good: Incapacitated prisoners will now be eligible for medical parole. Savings to California: $46 million.

The bad: He scaled back the early release of prisoners in county jails by cutting good time for misdemeanors from 50% to 33%.

On drunk driving: He signed a bill that lengthens the time a driver's license is revoked for a third DUI from 3 years to 10 years. It takes effect in 2012. [More...]

The Governor signed yet another crime bill named after a singular victim. This time it's "Adam's Law." It provides that child abusers who cause severe damage to a child under 8 years old could be sent to prison for life.

He also signed a bill creating a new misdemeanor crime of impersonating someone online with intent to cause harm.

And Amber alerts are not just for children anymore. Now Calfornians will get a "blue alert" when an officer is injured or killed on the job.

The Governor has 300 more bills to sign or veto by Thursday.

No wonder the state legislature's approval rating is at an all time low of 10%.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 29, 2010 (boomark / email).