Can a Prisoner Demand Trial or Sentencing?

Yes. A prisoner can demand trial or sentencing on a pending case.¹ To make this request the prisoner. must:

Contact the district attorney where the charge is pending;
Tell the district attorney where they are incarcerated;
Demand to come to court for trial or sentencing.

The prisoner must make this request in writing. In response, the District Attorney obtains an order for the agency holding the prisoner bring them to court. If, however, the District Attorney does not bring the prisoner to court within 90 days, the judge must dismiss the case.

The prisoner can request or agree to a continuance of the 90 day deadline. The court must enter the prisoner’s agreement to continue the deadline into the court’s minutes.

Qualifications for Prisoner to Demand Trial

The prisoner must be serving:

A sentence of 90 days or more in county jail;
A term in state prison;
A term in a Youth Authority institution;
A state rehabilitation center.

The prisoner must have a pending charge in California.

Charges Filed After Incarceration

A prisoner may demand trial or sentencing on charges filed after the prisoner is incarcerated.

Penal Code § 1381.↩︎

Good Time Credit Limited under PC § 2933.1

Good time credit is limited under Penal Code (“PC”) § 2933.1. This limitation applies to persons convicted of violent felonies.

Penal Code § 4019 – Good Time Credit

A person incarcerated in a county jail can earn “good time” credits. To qualify for good time credits, the prisoner must serve a minimum of 4 days. In addition, the prisoner must comply with jail regulations and perform labor. If the prisoner meets these requirements, they earn four days of credit for every two days served in jail.

Example: A defendant who is in custody for 100 days would earn 100 days of good time credits.

Good Time Credit Limited by PC § 2933.1

Persons convicted of violent felonies listed in Penal Code § 667.5 can only earn 15% good time credits while in county jail.

Example: A defendant who is in custody for 100 days would earn 15 days of good time credits.

Penal Code § 667.5 Violent Felonies

Violent felonies include murder, mayhem, robbery, arson, kidnapping, and many other violent crimes.

In addition, a violent felony is any felony:

in which the defendant inflicts great bodily injury;
on a person other than an accomplice;
which has been charged and proved.

Charged means that the allegation of a violent felony under Penal Code § 667.5 appears on the face of the complaint or information.

Proved means that allegation is admitted by the defendant, or found to be true by a judge or jury.

PC § 2933.1 Applies to Credits Earned Before Sentencing

Before the defendant is convicted of a violent felony, they earn regular good time credits of 2+2. However, once they are convicted, the limitation in Penal Code § 2933.1 applies. At sentencing, their credits are re-calculated and their good time credits will be reduced to 15%.

The defendant cannot earn more than 15.00%. The credits are rounded down to the closest whole number that is not more than 15%. (see People v. Ramos (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th 810.)

Example: A defendant who served 213 actual days in custody would receive 31 days of good time credits. 15% of 231 is 31.95. Therefore, 31 is the larges whole number that does not exceed 15%. Contact RBX Law if you have a question about good time credits.

When Do SB 1437 Changes to Felony Murder Rule Start?

Felony Murder Rule Relaxed by Senate Bill 1437

On September 30, 2018, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1437 into law. SB 1437 relaxed the felony murder rule. Beginning January 1, 2019, a participant in a felony is guilty of felony murder only if he or she:

Was the actual killer, OR
With the intent to kill, aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, solicited, requested, or assisted the actual killer in the commission of murder in the first degree, OR
Was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with reckless indifference to human life.

When Does SB 1437 Take Affect?

Senate Bill 1437 takes affect beginning January 1, 2019. Qualified inmates convicted before that date can petition to be re-sentenced.

Qualifying for Re-sentencing

There are three qualifications for re-sentencing.

First, a complaint, information, or indictment was filed against the defendant that allowed the prosecution to proceed under a theory of felony murder or murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine.

Second, the defendant was convicted of first degree or second degree murder following a trial or accepted a plea offer in lieu of a trial at which the defendant could be convicted for first degree or second degree murder.

Lastly, the defendant could not be convicted of first or second degree murder because of changes to Section 188 or 189 made effective January 1, 2019.

How to Petition for Re-sentencing

The first step is to file a petition with the sentencing court. The inmate must include a declaration by the inmate that he or she meets the qualifications for re-sentencing.

The second step is for the court to determine whether the inmate meets the three qualifications for re-sentencing.

If the inmate meets the qualifications for re-sentencing, the third step is a hearing. This hearing is called an “Order to Show Cause.” At that hearing, the court will determine whether to vacate the murder conviction.

Felony Murder Re-sentencing

The court may recall the felony murder sentence and re-sentence the inmate on any remaining counts.

The inmate can be sentenced as if he or she had not been previously been sentenced. However, the new sentence cannot be greater than the initial sentence.

Contact

924 Anacapa Street, Suite 1-T
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 635-7766
RABLAW805@gmail.com

Proposition 57 Parole For Nonviolent Inmates

Proposition 57

Proposition 57, “The Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016,” allows parole consideration for people convicted of nonviolent felonies after they have completed the full term for their primary offense.

The goal of the law is to stop the revolving door of crime by better preparing inmates to succeed when they re-enter our communities.

Parole Process

All inmates currently serving a conviction for a non-violent offense as defined by the California Penal Code will be able to participate in the parole process. The new parole consideration process began on July 1, 2017.

However, inmates are not automatically granted parole. Parole MAY be granted to inmates who have completed the full term for their primary offense and demonstrated that they should no longer be considered a current threat to public safety.

Additional Credits

“Credits” are how the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation tracks the number of days remaining on inmate sentences. Proposition 57 allows inmates to earn additional credits for good behavior and participation in rehabilitative, educational and career training programs.

The previous credit system is based on the crime committed. Under proposition 57, credits will be based on conduct and participation in programs. The CDCR will now award increased credits for Good Conduct and Milestone Completion Programs. CDCR will also begin awarding credits for Rehabilitative Achievement and Educational Merit.

Who Can Receive Credits?

Inmates sentenced to death or life without parole are not eligible to receive credits. All other inmates are eligible.

When Did Credits Start?

Good Conduct Credits began on May 1, 2017.
Milestone Completion, Rehabilitative Achievement, and Educational Merit Credits began on August 1, 2017.

All credits except can be revoked for disciplinary infractions except Educational Merit Credits.

Changes To Juvenile Justice System

Proposition 57 removed the prosecutor’s authority to decide whether juveniles charged with certain crimes should be tried in juvenile or adult court. That decision will now be made by judges.

Contact

(805) 635-7766
RABLAW805@gmail.com