July 11, 2007
Wrongful Conviction Bills Advanced
Earlier this week, the Public Safety Committee gave clearance for three bills aimed at preventing wrongful convictions. However, many fear that Governor Schwarzenegger won’t pass the bills because of the opposition of law enforcement.
The first of the three bills in question aims at decreasing the amount of false confessions by requiring suspect interrogations that take place in the custody of police officials to be electronically recorded.
The second bill would require that the testimony of jailhouse informants—who might lie for reduced sentences—be corroborated by evidence.
The third bill involves the California attorney general and other stakeholders within the criminal justice department of California. This bill asks for renewed guidelines for eyewitness lineups.
Similar bills were passed last year by the state legislature but denied by Governor Schwarzenegger. The bills have since been reviewed and edited to address various concerns. Still, there’s a chance the governor will deny the revised legislation.
Steve Cooley, from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, says that his office is in favor of the bills, while Tom Toller of the California District Attorney’s office reports that they oppose the bills because they are too broad and should not be applicable to every case.
(Source: The Los Angeles Times)
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