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Former California Attorney General Urges Governor Schwarzenegger to Sign Public Safety Bills to Prevent Wrongful Convictions

John-Van-de-Kamp.jpg By John Van de Kamp

Health care reform hasn't made it to the Governor's desk this year, but 3 crucial public safety bills have. Governor Schwarzenegger has the opportunity to sign landmark legislation that would help prevent wrongful convictions in California, and make this state a leader in addressing a serious nationwide problem.

How serious is the problem? When the innocent go to prison, the guilty go free. That is a very serious public safety problem. And it happens more often then most people think.

Just recently, Stephen Colbert interviewed the 200th DNA exoneree, Jerry Miller. Colbert gave him a card on behalf of "society" saying "Sorry." Here in California, Herman Atkins spent 12 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Here is Herman Atkins' story:

Harold Hall spent more than 19 years in prison, and was nearly sentenced to death. Over 200 other wrongfully convicted men and women have been exonerated by DNA evidence, but all too often these errors could have been avoided. Now Governor Schwarzenegger has a chance to show Colbert and the nation what we can do: California can do more than saying "Sorry."

Commentators from both sides of the aisle are supporting these bills for just the same reasons: they address glaring problems that need repair, and they protect public safety. By signing these bills, Governor Schwarzenegger will help law enforcement solve and prosecute crimes, while also protecting the innocent from wrongful conviction.

The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, a group established by the Senate to study the most serious problems with the criminal justice system, recommended all three of the reform measures now before the Governor.

In 2006 I was asked by the Senate to Chair the Commission, no doubt because of my curriculum vitae, which included terms as California's Attorney General, L.A. County D.A. and as California's Central District's first Federal Public Defender. So I have some perspective from both sides of the court room. I agreed to take on the assignment with the stipulation that I would receive support to balance the Commission so that all sides of the criminal justice systems had strong and fair representation. The result is a Commission whose members include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys (public and private), a victim advocate and public members.

The Commission has issued a series of reports dealing with Eyewitness Identification, False Confessions, Jail House Informants Testimony, DNA Evidence Processing, and Forensic Evidence. Now we're looking at Prosecutorial and Defense Misconduct and Incompetence.

The Legislature has passed three bills dealing with the Commission's early recommendations: SB 511, 609 and 756 represent the most basic and most urgently needed changes.

• Senate Bill 511 (Alquist) will require the electronic recording of police interrogation in cases involving homicides and other violent felonies.

• Senate Bill 756 (Ridley-Thomas) will require the appointment of a task force to draft voluntary guidelines for the conduct of police line-ups and photo arrays to increase the accuracy of eyewitness identifications.

• Senate Bill 609 (Romero) will require the corroboration of testimony by jailhouse informants.

Some states and jurisdictions already have similar laws in response to the notorious Duke Lacrosse scandal, North Carolina's Governor (and former Attorney General) Easley signed bills similar to SB 511 and 756. However, Governor Schwarzenegger would be the first to enact all 3 reforms at once.

He chose to veto bills similar to SB 511 and 756 last year, but made it clear in his veto message that he appreciates the need for reform. Now that the bills have been rewritten to address last year's concerns, there is no reason to put public safety and the lives of innocent men and women on hold. This is Governor Schwarzenegger's chance to sign landmark legislation this year, to protect the public, protect the innocent and be the reformer California, and the country, needs.

John Van de Kamp has a long and distinguished record in California law enforcement, serving two terms both as California's Attorney General and also as District Attorney for Los Angeles. He worked in the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's Office from 1960 to 1967, including a stint as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. He then went to Washington, D.C. where he ultimately served as Director of the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys. The National Association of Attorneys General presented Van de Kamp with its Wyman Award in 1989 in recognition of his outstanding effectiveness in office. He was elected and served as the 80th President of the State Bar of California in 2004-2005.

In 2006 the California Senate Rules Committee appointed him to serve as the Chair of its Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice to recommend safeguards to prevent wrongful convictions. Its final report is due at the end of 2007.

Posted on September 26, 2007

Comments

Thank you Mr Van de Camp, for your work on the committee as well as for this article. It is difficult to understand any opposition of these bills that would help ensure that innocent people not be convicted. That would allow law enforcement and our court system to better protect our communities.

Posted by: Sue Killian at September 26, 2007 07:39 AM

Finally the Justice system is recognizing there really are huge injustices happening everyday in our zest for incarcerating individuals guilty or not. Thank you Mr. Van De Kamp for stepping up.

THE DUKE RAPE CASE REALLY DID PROVE TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND POLITICIANS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE LOST THEIR SENSE OF JUSTICE. THEIR JOBS ARE TO PROTECT AND SERVE. ALWAYS KEEPING "JUSTICE FOR ALL" IN THEIR MINDS AS MOST IMPORTANT. NOT THEIR PROMOTIONS OR POLITICAL ADVANCE UP THE LADDER.

Finally the lies,threats,intimidations and coercions by law enforcement for false confessions or plea deals will be stopped and our children can be saved. So many young people have been bullied into prison it is sickening.

Posted by: Morris1 at September 26, 2007 08:36 AM

i do wish we could do samething about the laws in calif ! i no that the laws are maded to lock people up for years and years and that its all about the money in they pockets and so they can get richer on the backs of the in mates ... the taxpayers pay the bills... im a taxpayer and would love to see new laws to stop all this anyone can made a mistake and it dosnot take that many years to no your mistake !! the prisons in calif are full because of the money they get in.. there pocket... you would think by now you would have all the money you need so turn this arould and let the inmates out of your hell hole of prison

Posted by: delang at September 27, 2007 10:56 AM

My fiance was wrongly convicted of a sex crime back in 2001 and spent time in prison. He was interogated while under the influence of some perscriptions that caused him to helucinate and not have any sense of reality then forced to sign a plea agreement with the state. He now has to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. The state also unlawfully added 2 years on to his parole which we have been fighting since it means our family has to be separate and have no contact until he's released. We just had a baby 2 months ago and he hasn't been able to hold her...he got to see her once for a minute. I'd like to know when the state is going to recognize and pay to reopen cases and reinvestigate them. Why should we have to pay out of our own pockets for attorneys to fight for the unfairness of the law. And what if we cannot afford legal representation?? I'm sure if we were rich and could, we'd be able to fight them. I also come to realize this country no longer goes by "innocent until proven guilty" and instead goes by "guilty until proven innocent" which is a real shame. The state of California needs to get their crap together and stop these illegal interogations and wrongful convictions!!! They should also provide legal representation to anyone that cannot afford to appeal their case!!!

Posted by: Shari at October 1, 2007 01:27 AM

Hi Prisoner's that have worked hard for their parole are not getting out. I think the victims rights group are out of control they may be responsible. The govenor and the Attorney General may be fighting his release. Good Luck

Posted by: Margaret Baker at October 25, 2007 03:42 PM

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