Rizio and Nelson California Law Blog

Juvenile Facilities are Downsizing Too

According to a February 22 article on the Department of Justice Website, the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility has been closed. The article states, “At its peak, it housed approximately 2,000 youth, nearly a fifth of the 10,000 youth committed to state custody.” Gordon Hinkle and Bill Sessa write, “Closure of the facility in Chino, which had been the state’s largest for juvenile...

PVDMI

With the focus of reducing California’s recidivism rate, and the mandate that the prison population be reduced, a risk assessment system is used to determine if a criminal should be released on parole, or be returned to prison. It’s called the Parole Violation Decision Making Instrument, or PVDMI. According to an article in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)...

Orange County News

If you live in Orange County, it’s important that you understand the things that can impact you. We are pleased to be able to provide you with an ongoing update regarding what’s news in Orange County.

New 2010 Firearms Laws

As I was researching for current topics for this blog, I came across the news that California’s New and Amended Firearms Legislation has come into effect starting January first of this year. As I began to read the new regulations, I thought they were fairly straightforward. I found these three that regulate ammunition, and I quote: “Any person who is enjoined from engaging in activity associated...

Firearm Microstamping vs. Electronic Reporting of Firearms

There are two gun control measures on California’s DOJ Bureau of Firearms website that are worthy of discussion: Electronic Reporting of Firearms, which goes into effect July 1, 2010 Firearm Microstamping, supposed to be in effect this year but is still in the proposal stages, according to the webpage Let’s look at the first regulation, the electronic reporting of firearms. Basically,...

Common California Employment Law Questions

Does California require employers to allow rest breaks?Yes.  California employees are guaranteed a ten minute rest period for each four hour period that they work.  This is covered by the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders.  Whenever possible the break should be half way through a shift. If it’s not provided, you are entitled to an extra hour of pay for that day. What happens if my break...

California’s Early Prison Release

Effective Monday, January 25, 2010, the new law providing early release for non-violent criminals will allow approximately 6,500 inmates to be set free. Under the new law, which was signed into effect last fall, only those prisoners who have completed educational and vocational programs, and who have been selected as not likely to commit another crime, will be released. The Federal Court had ordered...

Methamphetamine Statistics

Methamphetamines, also known as “meth” or “crystal meth”, are drugs that are quickly growing in popularity in the state of California. Among the biggest users of this drug are young women, ages 12 to 25. This should not be surprising, since the affects of meth use include increased energy levels, elevated mood, and appetite suppression. Our society has conditioned our young women to believe...