Robert Bohm & Keith Haley

Introduction to Criminal Justice 8th edition Robert Bohm & Keith Haley

CALIFORNIA STATE SUPPLEMENT

Revised 2013

Rick Michelson Professor, Administration of Justice Grossmont College

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. Chapter 1 The California Criminal Justice System

Most of us only see small vignettes of the criminal justice system on the nightly news. Only with the trial of high profile cases, and the advent of popular television shows such as CSI, Law & Order, Cops, or Court TV (and other similar programs), have we seen the criminal justice system up close and personal. Unfortunately, just because we see it up close doesn’t mean we will always agree with the decisions made by a jury or by the Supreme Court.

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES After reading this chapter, students should be able to do the following: • Articulate the goals of the California criminal justice system. • Identify the three major components of the California criminal justice system. • Compare and contrast the differences between the federal law enforcement system and state or local agencies. • Differentiate between the federal court system and the state or local systems.

GOALS OF THE CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM While not all states may have the same wording, most states have goals similar to those stated by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training:1 1. Guarantee due process: Due process of the law is guaranteed by the U.S. and California constitutions, overseen by the courts, and practiced daily by police officers. 2. Prevent crime: Crime prevention is more than the apprehension of offenders. Peace officer presence in the community and interactions with citizens also serve to prevent crime. 3. Protect life and property: Peace officers must be dedicated to protecting and defending the members of their communities as well as those individuals’ property. 4. Uphold and enforce the law: The law enforcement component of the justice system has the primary responsibility to uphold the law. The judiciary system, through rulings of the court, and the corrections component, also play a role in enforcement. 5. Dispense equal justice: The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees equal justice under the law to all persons. Individuals from each component of the criminal justice system must treat all persons equally, fairly, and with justice. 6. Apprehend offenders: Apprehending offenders deprives them of their liberty and requires them to answer the criminal charges brought against them. 7. Assure victim’s rights: In the effort to apprehend and deal with the criminal, the criminal justice system cannot overlook the victim. Victims must be made aware of their rights and of the services available to them.

1 California POST Basic Course Workbook Series, Student Materials, Learning Domain 2, Criminal Justice System

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM There are three basic components of the criminal justice system. 1. Legislature 2. Judiciary 3 Executive branch

The Legislature There generally are two types of law: substantive law and procedural or adjective law. Substantive law is that which is created by a federal, state or local government and written into legal codes or statutes. Procedural law is how the law is administered, whether by the police, by the courts, or by corrections. Since early law was referred to as “common law,” it was not written or codified as it is today. Most states today do not use common law but rely on statutory law. Through the wishes of the people under a particular jurisdiction, it is the federal, state, or local elected officials who define what is or is not criminal behavior. However, it is really society—or social forces—that actually forms or shapes the definition of what crime is or is not. It is the legislature that writes and then enacts laws, establishes procedures, and provides funding and direction for the enforcement of such laws. For example, to deal with the issue of increased domestic violence, the legislature passed laws to crack down on offenders, establish the protocol for administering the enforcement of the law, and allocate funding the training of law enforcement. In the United States, the state and federal criminal justice systems are similar. The only real differences are in the jurisdiction, scope, and application. For example, the state system handles matters within the confines of state law, whereas the federal system handles matters related to federal laws and constitutional issues.

The Judiciary The judiciary consists of the court system. In both the federal and state systems, there are essentially three separate entities: • Trial courts (superior courts) • Appellate courts • Supreme courts

We will examine the differences between these more closely in Chapter 3. In 1791, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution and the Tenth Amendment reserved the states’ authority in judicial matters. However, the U.S. Supreme Court can review and overturn decisions by lower courts or ultimately declare a state law unconstitutional. Typically the statute is described as too overbroad or vague and is deemed “Void for Vagueness.” (For an example, see Kolender v. Lawson 461 U.S. 352)

Tenth Amendment: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. Under what is referred to as the “Supremacy Clause,” the United States Supreme Court has the power to hear constitutional issues that may be applicable to all the states. This was decided in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137, 2 L.Ed.60 (1803). It established the concept of judicial review in the United States.

The Executive Branch The executive component is similar in both the federal and state systems. The chief executive over national issues is the president, and the chief executive over state issues is the governor, as they relate to the following matters: 1. Powers of appointment 2. Power to grant pardons: Pardons, commutations, and clemency are “executive” privileges that allow a governor or the president to grant a prisoner clemency by showing leniency. Commutation and clemency are really similar: clemency is the reason; the commutation is the action. Pardons, by comparison, erase the entire conviction and are usually offered in cases where some injustice has occurred.

PARALLEL SYSTEMS The United States has two parallel systems of justice (federal and state) that have three similar components for both jurisdictions. These components are: 1. Law enforcement component (federal agencies vs. police, sheriff, state police/highway patrol, and special agents) 2. Judicial (federal vs. state courts) 3. Corrections (federal prison vs. local jails, prisons, juvenile facilities, probation and parole systems)

The Prosecution The prosecution includes both state and federal roles. Both are under their respective justice depa rtments (executive branch) and are considered the top law enforcement officers withi n their jurisdictions. For example, the United States Attorney General is currently Eri c Holder. Each state then has its own attorney general. Depending on whether the jur isdiction is a city or county, the term is slightly different for the prosecution.

City or Municipal Prosecutors – City or Municipal Attorneys Since every state has many municipalities, townships, and villages within each county, some of the larger municipalities have their own local prosecutors. In some areas they are simply called “city attorney” or “municipal attorney.”2 The office handles most of the relatively minor criminal or civil cases directly related to the city’s municipal code. 3

County Prosecutors – District Attorneys Within each state, each separate county has its own county-wide prosecutor, usually referred to as the district attorney or D.A. These are elected offices, and most serve a four-year term of

2 There is an International Association of Municipal Attorneys: http://www.imla.org/ 3 For a listing of state municipal codes, see: http://www.municode.com/

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. office and have to run for reelection. They are aided by deputy district attorneys who actually do most of the trial work for the county.

State Attorney Generals – (State’s) Department of Justice The current California Attorney General, Kamala D. Harris,4 was elected by the state’s citizens t o a four-year term of office.5 The role of an attorney general is to ensure laws of the stat e are uniformly and adequately enforced. This is specified in the California constitution (Article V, Section 13).6

The attorney general carries out responsibilities of the office through the state’s department of ju stice and represents the people of the state in both civil and criminal matters including tr ial, appellate, and supreme courts. The office also serves as legal counsel to various stat e officers, state agencies, boards, and commissions. The attorney general also assists dis trict attorneys, local law enforcement, and federal and international criminal justice age ncies in the administration of justice.

To support statewide law enforcement efforts, the attorney general coordinates statewide narcotics enforcement efforts, participates in criminal investigations, and provides forensic science services, identification and information services, and telecommunication support. In addition, the attorney general establishes and operates projects and programs to protect citizens from fraudulent, unfair, and illegal activities that victimize consumers or threaten public safety, and enforces laws that safeguard the environment and natural resources. The attorney general can act as an aggressive agent, and can target corrupt or fraudulent activities.

Attorney General Opinions 7 The attorney general carries out responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice. In essence, the AG is the “top cop” for the state. Although a state attorney general may issue legal opinions, these do not have the same effect as “case law” and are used as general guidelines for local district attorneys and the police. These decisions are referred to as “formal” or “informal” in nature and usually address a specific issue that has been called into question. It is the duty of the attorney general to see that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced (California Constitution, Article V, Section 13).

4 http://oag.ca.gov/about 5 California Attorney General’s website at: http://oag.ca.gov/ 6 California Constitution, Article 5, Section 13 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_5 7 Recent opinions can be accessed on the California Attorney General’s website at: http://ag.ca.gov/opinions.php

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California’s Trial Courts: The Superior Courts In California, the Superior Courts are the mainstay of the prosecutorial workload. They have juri sdiction, or the power to hear or “try” cases involving state law, such as robbery and burgla ry as well as civil law, such as in personal-injury cases. While some state trial courts have many different names and levels, including municipal court, district court, and superior cou rt, California has integrated minor courts into the Superior Courts. There are also specialize d courts, such as family courts, juvenile courts, drug courts, veterans’ courts, and others tha

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. t are specifically designed to handle a particular type of offense or civil action. State trial c ourts such as the superior courts are referred to as courts of general jurisdiction.

California Appellate Courts Most states have some form of an appellate court, usually known as a court of appeals. These courts hear appeals of state trial court decisions. A case’s outcome may be overturned if an appellate court rules that the trial court made an error in interpreting or applying the law in the case. After this decision, there are also state supreme courts.

State Supreme Courts All states have an appellate court of last resort, usually known as a supreme court. State supreme courts hear a limited number of appeals of lower state court decisions. Their jurisdiction is discretionary, which means supreme courts choose which cases to review based on the legal issues presented. The decisions of state supreme courts involving state law are final.

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Stages of the Criminal Justice System California’s criminal justice system can be thought of as having four stages: 1. Commission of the crime 2. Arrest by law enforcement 3. Prosecution of a case in the trial courts 4. Detention and supervision by corrections agencies

Crime in California Crime is generally measured as a rate per 100,000 residents to allow easier comparison across states and regions. The federal government collects crime-rate statistics for certain crimes, primarily property and violent felonies. (This data does not include drug crimes, infractions, or most misdemeanors.)

The crime rate in California has declined substantially since the early 1990s and is now at a level similar to that of the early 1960s. In 2011, the overall crime rate in California was slightly below the national average. These rates, however, only reflect reported crimes, and national surveys show that most crime is not reported to law enforcement authorities.

California has experienced declines in both property and violent crime rates since the early 1990s. Between 1991 and 2011, the state’s overall crime rate declined by 56 percent. This trend is similar to declines in crime patterns in the rest of the United States. There is no consensus among researchers regarding the cause of these declines.

8 Source material from California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office report on the California Criminal Justice System – a Primer: www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2013/crim/criminal-justice-primer/criminal-justice-primer-011713.pdf

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. There were 1.1 million crimes in California in 2011 reported in the federal Uniform Crime Statistics system. This is down from a high of over 2 million felonies reported annually in the early 1990s.

The violent crime rate in California has decreased by 63 percent since peaking in 1992. The property crime rate has decreased by 63 percent since peaking in 1980.

Overall, California reported about 3,000 crimes per 100,000 people in 2011. Property crime accounted for 86 percent of reported crimes in California in 2011, and violent crime accounted for 14 percent. Property crime is reported in five categories: 1. Larceny-theft of property over $400 in value 2. Larceny-theft of property under $400 in value 3. Burglary 4. Motor vehicle theft 5. Arson

9 http://oag.ca.gov/crime (California Attorney General)

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. Although the proportion of crime changes slightly every year, property crimes have consistently represented approximately 85 percent of all reported crimes over the past 25 years. • California’s overall crime rate was somewhat lower than the U.S. crime rate in 2011, and was third lowest among the ten most populous states. • California’s violent crime rate is 6 percent higher than the U.S. rate and the fourth highest among the largest states. • California’s property crime rate ranks as third lowest among the largest states, 11 percent below the national rate. • Among the largest counties in California, San Joaquin had the highest overall crime rate in 2010, including the highest violent crime rate and second-highest property crime rate (after Fresno). • Since 2001, violent crime rates have decreased in 11 of the 15 largest counties, and the property crime rate has decreased in 13 of the 15 largest counties. (There are 58 counties in CA.) • Based on national surveys, about half of all violent crimes—excluding homicides, but including aggravated assault, robbery, and sexual assault—go unreported to police and other law enforcement authorities (the “dark figure of crime”). • People are even less likely to report certain property crimes, including motor vehicle theft, burglary, and theft. Overall, about three-fifths of these property crimes go unreported.

Homicides and gangs: A survey conducted by the Governor’s Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy eestimated that, between 2005 and 2009, over one-third of homicides in California were reported to be related to gang activity or committed by a gang member. The remaining homicides include murders committed as part of domestic disputes or vehicular manslaughter. • About half of the homicides in Los Angeles County during this time period were gang- related, compared to about one-fourth in the rest of the state. This difference may be due in part to differences in how local law enforcement agencies collect and report data. • Total homicides have declined in recent years, decreasing by 22 percent from 2005 to 2009 statewide (35 percent in Los Angeles and 13 percent in other parts of California). Gang- related homicides decreased by about the same amount over that period.

Sex offenders: Most individuals adjudicated for sex crimes in California (both felonies and misdemeanors) are required to register with local law enforcement for the remainder of their lives. There are currently about 105,000 such registrants listed in the Megan’s Law database maintained by the DOJ. The public may access information—including name, address, and crime—for most of these offenders based on their specific conviction. • As of October 2012, about 74,000 sex registrants were in the community, 10,000 had been deported, and 21,000 were incarcerated for subsequent offenses. • According to data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), nearly 70 percent of sex registrants released from state prison in 2007–2008 were returned within three years (including returns for new convictions and parole violations). This is slightly higher than the recidivism rate of other released inmates.

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. Of the sex offenders returned to prison, less than 2 percent were returned on a conviction for a new sex crime.

Arrests and Local Law Enforcement After a crime is committed and reported to law enforcement, suspected offenders are arrested by law enforcement officers. Most arrests are for misdemeanor offenses. Of offenders arrested for felony offenses, most are adults, and most are arrested for nonviolent crimes. In California, state sentencing laws are primarily enforced at the local level by the sheriff and police officers, who investigate crimes and apprehend offenders. The state does have a limited role in law enforcement. For example, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has a comparatively small number of officers to ensure safety and enforce traffic laws on state highways and county roads in unincorporated areas. The state also provides law enforcement officers in other places, such as state parks and college campuses. In addition, the California Department of Justice (DOJ), led by the state attorney general, provides assistance and expertise to local law enforcement in the investigation of crimes that are multi-jurisdictional (occur in multiple counties), such as organized crime.

There were almost 1.3 million arrests of adults and juveniles for felonies, misdemeanors, and status offenses in California in 2011. • Almost two-thirds of these arrests were for misdemeanors, while one-third were for felonies. • The total number of arrests was down slightly from about 1.4 million in 2010. • In 2011, males represented about eight out of every ten adult and juvenile felony arrests. • Almost two-thirds of all adult felony arrests were of people between the ages of 20 and 39. • A majority of felony arrests were of blacks or Hispanics, with Hispanics making up just over half of all juvenile felony arrests. • The percent of adult felony arrestees that were Hispanic was similar to the proportion of the population in California as a whole. • About 6 percent of adults and juveniles in California are black, which is less than the roughly 20 percent of adult and juvenile arrestees who are black. • There were a total of 420,000 felony arrests in 2011 (377,000 adult felony arrests and 43,000 juvenile felony arrests).

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Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education. • About three-fourths of these arrests were for nonviolent crimes (such as property and drug- related crimes). • Specifically, property crimes and drug offenses accounted for just over half of all felony arrests in 2011. • Other nonviolent crimes (such as illegal possession of a firearm) accounted for 21 percent of felony arrests. • As compared to adult felony arrests, a higher percentage of juvenile felony arrests are for property crimes, while a lower percentage are for drug crimes. • About one-fourth of adult and juvenile felony arrests were for violent crimes, including homicide, rape, and robbery. • There were a total of 1,572 arrests for homicide in 2011, which is about 0.4 percent of all felony arrests.

Prosecutions and the Courts Once an individual is arrested and charged with committing a crime, he or she must go through California’s trial court system. The trial courts are funded by the state, though local governments provide district attorneys and public defenders to try criminal cases.

When including all types of criminal cases—felony, misdemeanor, traffic infractions, and juvenile delinquency—there were over 8 million filings in California trial courts in 2009–2010. Only a few hundred thousand of these were for felony cases each year. Of adult felony cases brought by the district attorney, 80 percent result in a guilty verdict, and most of these offenders are sentenced to a combination jail and probation. Almost all juveniles adjudicated a felony offense are sentenced to county supervision. Federal criminal law is limited to the powers of the federal government enumerated in the United States Constitution. Federal criminal laws relate to the federal government’s role in the regulation of interstate commerce, immigration, and the protection of federal facilities and personnel. Consequently, federal law enforcement and prosecutions tend to focus on nonviolent crimes such as drug trafficking, immigration violations, fraud, bribery, and extortion.

Local and State Corrections The component of the criminal justice system that supervises offenders is commonly referred to as “corrections” or the “correctional system.” In California, adults convicted of felony crimes generally are placed under supervision either at the local level (jail and probation) or the state level (prison and parole), depending on the seriousness of the crime and the length of incarceration. Juvenile offenders can be adjudicated to local probation to be supervised in the community or housed in local juvenile facilities, or they can be sent to state facilities in some cases. Most offenders, including felony offenders, are supervised by local corrections agencies, while a smaller number of the most serious and violent offenders are supervised by the state.

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California Attorney General: http://oag.ca.gov/about

California Court System: http://www.courts.ca.gov/

California Criminal Justice Programs: http://www.caag.state.ca.us/programs.htm

California Criminal Justice Statistics: http://oag.ca.gov/crime

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov

California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST): http://www.post.ca.go v/

Department of Juvenile Justice: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Juvenile_Justice/index.html

California Legislative Analyst’s Office: http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/main.aspx

U.S. Department of Justice: http://www.justice.gov/

U.S. Attorney General: http://www.justice.gov/ag/

U.S. Court System: http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts.aspx

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