Urgent Action Needed- Call the Governor!

Death Penalty Focus
870 Market St. Ste. 859 San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. 415-243-0143 - Fax 415-243-0994 - http://www.deathpenalty.org

Urgent Action Needed!

Protect the Innocent!
Urge the Governor to Sign SB 1544 and SB 171

The two most common causes of wrongful conviction are mistaken eyewitness identification and false confessions. Modern DNA evidence has proven that innocent people are sent to prison for crimes they did not commit far more often than we think. But we can change that.

The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice is a blue ribbon Commission chaired by former Attorney General John Van de Kamp, and made up of prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and defense attorneys. To prevent wrongful convictions and make sure that the guilty person is caught, the Commission has recommended that police be required to use modern, “best practices” in line up procedures and that all interrogations be recorded in cases of violent felonies.

Two bills passed by the California Legislature and on the Governor’s desk would make these reforms law.

SB 1544, authored by Senator Carole Migden, would improve California’s eyewitness identification procedures, using scientific standards. Improving these procedures will simultaneously decrease the rate of wrongful conviction and increase our ability to convict those who are truly guilty.

SB 171, by Senator Elaine Alquist, would require that interrogations of individuals in custody for violent offenses be electronically recorded. Experts agree that recording interrogations is the most important reform to prevent false confessions and ensure that the guilty are convicted.

Write to the Governor and urge him to sign SB 1544 and 171!


Click here to take action:

https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu-nc/issues/alert/?alertid=9014926&type=SW&show_alert=1

OR Call and Fax the Governor:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
To send an Email please visit: http://www.govmail.ca.gov/




Stefanie L. Faucher
Program Director

Death Penalty Focus
870 Market St. Ste. 859
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. 415-243-0143
Fax 415-243-0994
mailto:stefanie [at] deathpenalty.org
http://www.deathpenalty.org
http://www.californiamoratorium.org