What Are Your Options? Ask an SB 1437 Lawyer in Carlsbad CA
If you have heard of the recent changes to the felony murder law in California, and you or a loved one has been convicted and sentenced according to it, then you may wonder: What are your options? The best way to get a direct answer to your specific questions is to contact an SB 1437 lawyer in Carlsbad CA for a free legal consultation by calling Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088. You can also read on for more details.
The New Criteria for Felony Murder Conviction Are Retroactive
Advocates for fairer sentencing were successful in getting the requirements for felony murder sentencing changed. They were even more successful in one important one: The law is now retroactive. This means that even a person convicted and sentenced a decade ago can benefit from these changes. Today at least one of the following must be proven true for the felony murder rule to be applicable.
- They actually killed a person.
- They acted with intent to kill. For example, they helped or encouraged the killer.
- They were a major participant in the crime and acted with reckless indifference to human life.
- The murder victim was an on-duty police officer and the defendant knew (or reasonably should have known) that they were a police officer.
Likewise, if a person was already sentenced in relation to the felony murder law, and their crime does not fall into one of those categories, they may be eligible for resentencing.
The Impact of SB 1437 Could Be Significant
When you speak to an SB 1437 Lawyer in Carlsbad CA, you will learn that there are three main reasons that the full extent of the effect of this change to the law is not yet known. First, the law is new enough that we do not have precedents for how the courts will interpret certain parts. Second, there are no reliable stats on how many people were sentenced via the felony murder rule. Third, it is unknown how many people will be aware of the change and know to contact an SB 1437 lawyer in Carlsbad CA.
Call Us Today for a Free Initial Consultation with an SB 1437 Lawyer in Carlsbad CA
This process is not an overnight one. It takes time and the sooner you reach out to an SB 1437 lawyer in Carlsbad CA, the sooner you can get the process started. At Chambers Law Firm we are standing by to help assess your case and discover if it makes sense to file for a sentence reduction. Contact us now at 714-760-4088 for a free initial consultation.
