Hahn says depopulate Los Padrinos
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D-4th District) on Friday said she supported Los Angeles Superior Judge Espinoza’s order to depopulate Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.
Espinoza announced the decision on Friday, directing the LA County Probation Department to come back next month with a plan for relocating the detainees. The facility houses about 300 youth detainees whose criminal cases are still pending.
“I support Judge Espinoza’s order to safely and securely depopulate Los Padrinos,” said Hahn. There are young people in Los Padrinos who should be moved to alternate facilities, but there are also many who can and should be safely released back home, monitored with ankle monitors, or cared for in community-based placements like a Boys Republic.
“At this time, my ultimate concern is for the well-being of the hundreds of young people in our care who have not been getting what they need to rehabilitate,” Hahn added.
DA Hochman on wrongful murder conviction
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman (R) last Thursday appeared in court in to state on the record his support of Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke II decsion to find Humberto “Beto” Duran factually innocent of a 1993 East Los Angeles gang murder, for which he spent 30 years in prison.
District Attorney Hochman appeared in court today to state on the record the Office’s support for Mr. Duran’s motion for factual innocence.
“Today is a monumental day for Mr. Duran, who was cleared of a crime he did not commit after more than three decades,” Hochman said. “Justice takes many forms, and I often announce arrests, convictions, and sentences. However, today justice required the setting aside of a conviction and agreement to a motion for factual innocence. In such cases, my office works swiftly to bring these facts to light and to take the appropriate actions to achieve justice. I want to commend Deputy District Attorney Lara Bazan of the Habeas Corpus Litigation Team and our investigators for seeking the truth and diligently reinvestigating this case more than 30 years after the crime.”
On Dec. 13, 1994, a jury convicted Duran of one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted premeditated murder in the killing of Albert Gonzalez, who was shot to death in the driveway of his home on Dec. 18, 1993. On Jan. 31, 1995, the trial court sentenced Mr. Duran to prison for 25 years to life, plus a five-year firearm enhancement, consecutive to life, plus an additional five-year firearm enhancement.
On Jan. 9, 2024, Mr. Duran filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
At trial, Mr. Duran’s counsel failed to present alibi witnesses and failed to investigate and present existing third-party culpability evidence thoroughly. Duran was convicted based on the testimony of one eyewitness, who has since recanted her trial testimony.
AM Bryan voting rights amendment advances
Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan (D-Los Angeles) last week saw his proposed constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to all California citizens who are currently completing prison sentences pass the Assembly Committee on Elections.
The proposed amendment, ACA 4, will be placed on the November ballot for approval by all current California voters.
“ACA 4 not only reduces recidivism, it acknowledges the racial injustice and systemic racism that underpins voter suppression in all forms,” said Bryan. “Voting is crucial to effective policymaking, community building, and growing equity in all aspects of the lives of Californians. It is a right and it is necessary to achieving a stronger, safer California.”
ACA 4, if approved by voters, will bring California on par with Maine, Vermont, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, all of which allow people in prison to vote. Globally, nearly all Western European countries allow incarcerated people to vote, as do other countries around the world, including 28 European nations, Israel, Canada, Zimbabwe, Japan, Kenya, Peru, and others.
