Steve Smith
Blog
Gascón Abandons Victims
Marsalee Ann Nichols, a UC Santa Barbara undergrad, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. One week after her murder, the suspect, Kerry Michael Conley made bail and confronted Marsy’s mother while she was shopping in a grocery store. Their encounter was not a coincidence but was planned by Conley. ...
California
A Crime Like No Other
Elderly parole is intended to further reduce California’s prison population by releasing older inmates no longer deemed to be a threat to public safety. On the face of it, elderly parole seems reasonable. Many inmates do age out of their criminality and the idea that an elderly inmate using a ...
Blog
The War of Misinformation – Police Use of Force
The last several years have brought new focus on police tactics and use of force. The death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, during an arrest by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, shocked the nation’s conscience and led to protests in 140 cities, with some turning violent. Despite ...
Blog
California’s Gun Legislation – The message to crime victims – go get a lawyer
In the wake of the tragic Uvalde and Buffalo shootings, California’s Governor and legislators got busy. Over a dozen gun related anti-crime bills are in circulation and a few have already been signed into law. The new laws are: AB 1621, which requires serial numbers on firearms components and defines ...
Blog
Crime in California 2021 – Yes, we’re still talking about 2021.
On June 28, California Attorney General Rob Bonta reported that a Firearms Dashboard data breach had occurred, releasing the names and personal information for every CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) holder in California. Specifically, the data includes: full name, date of birth, address, gender, race, driver’s license, and CCW license number ...
California
California Crime ‘Reform’ Takes Away Key Tool to Hold Juvenile Killers Accountable
In 2000 California passed Proposition 21 – a ballot proposition aimed at addressing gang violence and allowing prosecutors to hold juveniles accountable as adults for violent crimes. 18 years later, voters reaffirmed their desire to continue to hold juveniles accountable by passing Prop 57, only now the decision is left to a ...
Blog
How Many Will Die? The Progressive Criminal Justice Experiment
“I hit the city and I lost my band I watched the needle take another man Gone, gone, the damage done…” – Neil Young “The Needle and the Damage Done” The Needle and the Damage Done may be Neil Youngs most misunderstood song. Watch the video linked above – the ...
Blog
The 2nd Amendment and Me
Full disclosure – I represent one of the 40% or so households in America that has a gun in it. A legally obtained and stored firearm that has never been on any list for potential regulation. Last week’s murder of 19 school children and 2 of their teachers in Uvalde ...
Blog
Gun Violence Increases in California
The May 15th shooting at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Hills, where six people were shot and one tragically died, is yet another reminder that California is experiencing an increase in homicides not seen since 1960. Statewide, homicides were up 30 percent in 2020 and, while 2021 crime statistics ...
Blog
National Crime Victims Week 2022
For over 40 years America has recognized the last week of April as National Crime Victims Week. California honors Crime Victims Week in a variety of ways at the State and Local level. This year, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation adopted a theme of “Rights, Access and Equity” ...
Gascón Abandons Victims
Marsalee Ann Nichols, a UC Santa Barbara undergrad, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. One week after her murder, the suspect, Kerry Michael Conley made bail and confronted Marsy’s mother while she was shopping in a grocery store. Their encounter was not a coincidence but was planned by Conley. ...
A Crime Like No Other
Elderly parole is intended to further reduce California’s prison population by releasing older inmates no longer deemed to be a threat to public safety. On the face of it, elderly parole seems reasonable. Many inmates do age out of their criminality and the idea that an elderly inmate using a ...
The War of Misinformation – Police Use of Force
The last several years have brought new focus on police tactics and use of force. The death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, during an arrest by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, shocked the nation’s conscience and led to protests in 140 cities, with some turning violent. Despite ...
California’s Gun Legislation – The message to crime victims – go get a lawyer
In the wake of the tragic Uvalde and Buffalo shootings, California’s Governor and legislators got busy. Over a dozen gun related anti-crime bills are in circulation and a few have already been signed into law. The new laws are: AB 1621, which requires serial numbers on firearms components and defines ...
Crime in California 2021 – Yes, we’re still talking about 2021.
On June 28, California Attorney General Rob Bonta reported that a Firearms Dashboard data breach had occurred, releasing the names and personal information for every CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) holder in California. Specifically, the data includes: full name, date of birth, address, gender, race, driver’s license, and CCW license number ...
California Crime ‘Reform’ Takes Away Key Tool to Hold Juvenile Killers Accountable
In 2000 California passed Proposition 21 – a ballot proposition aimed at addressing gang violence and allowing prosecutors to hold juveniles accountable as adults for violent crimes. 18 years later, voters reaffirmed their desire to continue to hold juveniles accountable by passing Prop 57, only now the decision is left to a ...
How Many Will Die? The Progressive Criminal Justice Experiment
“I hit the city and I lost my band I watched the needle take another man Gone, gone, the damage done…” – Neil Young “The Needle and the Damage Done” The Needle and the Damage Done may be Neil Youngs most misunderstood song. Watch the video linked above – the ...
The 2nd Amendment and Me
Full disclosure – I represent one of the 40% or so households in America that has a gun in it. A legally obtained and stored firearm that has never been on any list for potential regulation. Last week’s murder of 19 school children and 2 of their teachers in Uvalde ...
Gun Violence Increases in California
The May 15th shooting at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Hills, where six people were shot and one tragically died, is yet another reminder that California is experiencing an increase in homicides not seen since 1960. Statewide, homicides were up 30 percent in 2020 and, while 2021 crime statistics ...
National Crime Victims Week 2022
For over 40 years America has recognized the last week of April as National Crime Victims Week. California honors Crime Victims Week in a variety of ways at the State and Local level. This year, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation adopted a theme of “Rights, Access and Equity” ...
