Of course California Public Defenders Association opposes Senate Bill 1373 which is needed to stop the misuse of pre trial mental health diversion

 

(Senator Grove: Facebook)

Of course California Public Defenders Association opposes Senate Bill 1373 spearheaded  by state Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and which has bipartisan support and calls for more stringent limits to revise the ill intended consequences of pre trial mental health diversion created by Assembly Bill 1810 in 2018. 

Senator Grove has been quoted in media coverage SB 1373 today saying a well-intended reform has given criminals a “get out of jail free card” to wipe their records clean. This was according to the California Post.

SB 1373 would require that a defendant’s mental disorder be diagnosed within five years of the charged offense. 

It would also expand the list of disqualifying crimes to include attempted murder, kidnapping, carjacking and human trafficking, and it would bar diversion for defendants with two prior felony convictions or a prior strike under California’s Three Strikes law.

Assemblymember Maggy Krell, a Democrat and former Sacramento County district attorney supports the bill.

If you read my court coverage regularly, you have seen me speak against mental health diversion, especially repeat offenders, who show no remorse or change in behavior. I have been threatened and harassed by people who got a slap on the wrist and overwhelmingly, it is clients from the Humboldt County Public Defender's Office and several from one particular Deputy Public Defender. I have called out Humboldt Judge Kaleb Cockrum in two specific cases. The Deputy DA and law enforcement in one of those cases not only believed me and the DA got the police reports I had, tried to help me and agreed with me about the defendant; but they acknowledged the law was an issue. Judges have discretion. A different judge may have made a different ruling. 

This deputy public defender does not know me. Has never spoken with me. He has never risked his life or been targeted like I have on a daily basis. He is the typical far left die hard believer who cannot see past his bubble of misguided beliefs that have real consequences for public safety. Glaring at me every time I am at the Courthouse is not going to change that coddling criminals does not work. Giving a pass when there is no remorse, no change in behavior, no responsibility is stupid and dangerous for public safety.

The same week I wrote about an encounter on 4th street and having to call EPD that resonated with thousands of Eurekans; this deputy Public Defender's client who should have never been granted mental health diversion tried to intimidate me again and have a friend who was driving me ram me with her car. Right in front of the Public Defender's Office on a weekend. Fortunately, I have quick reflexes. This fool needs to look in the mirror instead of blaming everyone else. California's mental health diversion is a disaster.

Mental health diversion is not the only abuse in the California criminal justice system. So is not guilty by reason of insanity as used in California.