Talk to an SB 1437 Lawyer in San Marcos CA to Find Out What Your Options Are
Have you or a loved one been affected by felony murder rule sentencing guidelines? If so, then now is the time to learn more about changes to these laws. You can continue reading to find out what the California legislature has done in an attempt to make sentencing fairer. Then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to schedule a free initial consultation with an SB 1437 lawyer in San Marcos CA.
There Are Now Four Criteria for Application of Felony Murder
Today, four criteria must be met for a person to be sentenced in accordance with the felony murder law. The person must be found guilty of one of the following:
- Actually killing a person.
- Acting with intent to kill. For example, helping or encouraging the killer.
- Being a major participant in the crime and acting with reckless indifference to human life.
- Being involved in a case in which the murder victim was an on-duty police officer and the defendant knew (or reasonably should have known) that they were a police officer.
One of the most significant aspects of this new criteria is that it is being applied retroactively. This means that a person arrested, convicted, and sentenced under previous murder felony rules could have their sentence reduced if it does not meet any of the four criteria described above. They should reach out to an SB 1437 lawyer in San Marcos CA right away.
Thousands of People Could Be Affected by SB 1437
Though the law was only recently implemented and the long-term results cannot yet be known, it appears that thousands of people may be eligible to have their sentences shortened. It is hard to estimate for three reasons:
- The law is too new to know how the courts will rule on certain aspects of it.
- There are no “felony murder law” stats kept by the state so there is no reliable way to know for sure how many people have been convicted under previous laws.
- We do not know how many people will know to contact an SB 1437 lawyer in San Marcos CA.
The truth is that many people may simply not be aware that they are eligible to be released for prison or have their sentence reduced. It is to the benefit of the state to disseminate the information, as the average prison costs the state $80,000 per day, but only time will show how well covered the changes will be.
Are You Ready to Learn More? Call for a Free Consultation with an SB 1437 Lawyer in San Marcos CA
This is a process that will take some time. This should dissuade anyone from taking the necessary steps to get the process started, but it should encourage them to contact an SB 1437 lawyer in San Marcos CA sooner rather than later. You can reach Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to request a free initial consultation. We are standing by to assess your case and give you the legal advice you need.
