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California Bill Would Ban so-called "Affluenza" Court Defense

  •  Max Pringle 
Monday, January 27, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Max Pringle / CPRN
 

Max Pringle / CPRN

In a case that sparked outrage, a defense psychologist last year convinced a Texas judge that a teenage drunk driver, who killed four people, should get probation instead of prison time because he had an overly indulgent upbringing.

Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gatto says his bill would even the playing field for sentencing in cases like this.

“The wealthy will always be able to afford better lawyers,” says Gatto. “But there are certain things we can change. The laws can be made to knock out some of these defenses that are a little hard for us to believe.”

If the bill passes, it would make California the first state to ban the so-called “affluenza” court defense.

The Assembly Rules Committee has passed the bill on to the Public Safety Committee. 

Capitol Coverage

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    May 30, 2018

    Fair Political Practices Commission chairperson Jodi Remke announced Tuesday that she will step down on Friday. It follows months of acrimony with other commissioners.

  • Steve Yeater / AP file

    California Senator Tony Mendoza Resigns After Sexual Harassment Investigation, But Says He'll Run For Re-Election

    February 22, 2018

    His resignation followed an outside investigation, which found that Mendoza likely engaged in "flirtatious or sexually suggestive" behavior with six different women, including former staffers and fellows. The allegations date back to 2007.

  • Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

    Report: California Senator Tony Mendoza ‘More Likely Than Not’ Made Sexual Advances Toward Six Women

    February 20, 2018

    A summary of the Senate’s outside investigation comes after the chamber’s Rules Committee met in closed session to discuss Mendoza’s fate for the second weekday in a row.

  • Rich Pedroncelli / AP / File

    Window For Sexual Harassment Complaints Could Widen Under New Bills

    January 18, 2018

    New legislative efforts supporting the “Me Too” anti-harassment movement could change the reporting process for victims filing complaints.

  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    Women In Calif. Politics Share What They'd Like To See Change

    October 26, 2017

    Women in California politics, protesting sexual harassment and abuse at the Capitol, distrust the response from legislative leaders.


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 capitol

Max Pringle

State Government Reporter

Max covers the state capital, bringing more than a decade of experience in print and public radio, including reporting for KPFA, KQED and KALW. He traces his news roots to working on his his high school newspaper.   Read Full Bio 

 @Maxbp Email Max Pringle

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