Prison Law Practice
Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys
& Appeals Lawyer
With years of experience in federal criminal defense, the Sacramento Defense Attorneys at the Rosenfeld Law Firm have hundreds of "lifer" hearings to their credit, and remain current on all of the new case law.
The Sacramento criminal defense law firm and its principal attorney Ken Rosenfeld are well-versed in California Code of Regulations, Title 15, and the California Penal Code, and offer prisoners their best chance at obtaining a parole date.
Contact Sacramento Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys
Before & After Board of Parole Hearings
How Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help
If you were lucky enough to obtain a Board of Parole Hearing, hiring a Sacramento criminal defense attorney prior to a hearing date offers your best chance for success.
The criminal defense attorneys at the Rosenfeld Law Firm can ensure that you are properly prepared to respond to questions presented at the Board of Parole Hearing.
If you’ve had a parole suitability hearing and have been denied parole, it is still possible to challenge the Board of Parole Hearing Decision (plus conditions of your confinement) through the courts.
A Sacrament Appeals Attorney from the Rosenfeld Law Firm can help you file a Petition for “Writ of Habeas Corpus”.
Contact an Appeals Lawyer
The Sacramento federal criminal defense attorneys at the Rosenfeld Law Firm have not only the expertise, but the experience to successfully overcome decisions of the Board of Parole, and secure releases for prisoners like you, who deserve to be given a second chance.
Problems with the California Prison System
There is no question that the California Prison system is broken.
The medical care of California inmates is in the hands of a federally-appointed receiver, who is demanding that the state hand over 8 billion dollars immediately to begin work on new California prison medical facilities.
In addition, the state has had to house inmates out-of-state and in community facilities so as to ease prisoner over-crowding and reduce the risk that a federal 3-judge panel will step in and take over the California prison system and cap the prisoner population.
Much of the state's prisoner overcrowding could be addressed through the release of inmates who are serving life terms (lifers) and meet all the parole criteria necessary for release.
Even though the California Supreme Court ruled that the Board of Parole Hearings cannot deny parole based solely on the commitment offense, and holding that the Board shows “some evidence” of aggravating facts beyond the minimum facts of the crime, the Board of Parole continues to deny prisoners parole at a staggering rate.
Unacceptable Board of Parole Statistics
- Currently, only 5 percent of the approximately 3,000 "lifers" who have parole suitability hearings each year are granted parole dates by the Board of Parole.
- The Governor then overrides approximately 90 percent of these 150 or so dates.
- Thus prisoner parole which is “actually” granted is reduced to “less than two dozen” inmates per year.
It's clear that the Board and the Governor have thumbed their noses at the Supreme Court, as well as the decisions of the appellate courts, and it's just "business as usual."
Well Meaning State Attorneys
The overwhelming majority of life prisoners in California are represented by counsel appointed by the State.
These state attorneys, though mostly well-meaning, are paid only $30.00 per hour, and can receive a maximum of $240.00 for the entire case, including meeting with the prisoner, reviewing his central file, traveling to the institution, and representing the inmate at the hearing!
It should come as no surprise then that most life prisoners go to hearings completely unprepared to face questioning by the Board members, or present evidence on their own behalf which would, at the very least, be taken into consideration by an appellate court on review of the hearing.
You Have a Right to Challenge Board of Parole Decisions
California state prisoners have the right and the ability to challenge Board of Parole decisions through the courts.
As a life prisoner, you have the option to hire your own private federal criminal defense attorney or appeals lawyer to assist you in preparing for a suitability hearing or appealing the decision by the Board to deny your parole.
As stated, Californian prisoners may file a Petition for “Writ of Habeas Corpus” challenging Board of Parole Hearing Decisions, as well as conditions of their confinement.
It is unreasonable however, to expect that prisoners would have the legal expertise or knowledge necessary to successfully challenge the arbitrary decision made by the Board.
To successfully overcome the decisions of the Board of Parole and secure your release you will need the legal expertise like that offered by Sacramento federal criminal defense attorneys at the Rosenfeld Law Firm who can present evidence on your behalf in appellate court.
The Rosenfeld Law Firm of Sacramento California specializes in criminal defense offering expert legal counsel and representation by experienced federal criminal defense attorneys licensed to practice in the State of California and the United States Supreme Court.
Federal criminal defense is just one of the areas of practice offered at The Rosenfeld Law Firm. Our criminal defense attorneys also handle prison law, mental health, DUI defense, juvenile defense, criminal defense and appellate law.
For more information on California Prison Law, legal counsel by Sacramento federal criminal defense attorneys during Board of Parole hearings or to contact an appeals lawyer if you’ve been denied parole, contact the Rosenfeld Law Firm of Sacramento California or call 916-447-2070. |
