SAN FRANCISCO – The death sentence for a man convicted of killing a woman who was robbed, raped, tortured and beaten has been reversed by the California Supreme Court. The ruling upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Kevin Pearson, 34, but ordered a new penalty hearing. The court said that trial judge erroneously granted a prosecution request to excuse a potential juror because she gave conflicting responses when asked whether she could vote for the death penalty.
SACRAMENTO – Nevada prisoners will wear shoes manufactured by California prisoners. The Nevada Board of Examiners approved a $200,000, two-year contract with California Prison Industries for the shoes.
SACRAMENTO – The California State Assembly is considering easing restrictions for members of the press to interview prisoners. The legislation, AB1270, passed unanimously out of the Public Safety Committee Jan. 10 and moved to the Appropriations Committee.
SACRAMENTO – General fund spending on prisons is about twice that of Jerry Brown’s Republican predecessor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The budget was $5.2 billion in 2004 and is $9.5 billion in 2011. The spending increase was mostly created when the prison population exploded during the 1990s and then a 2011 court order forced prison officials to improve medical care.
CHILE – Government officials want to build four new prisons by using California’s Solano State Prison as a model. Minister of Justice Teodoro Ribera submitted a proposal for the new prison system to President Sebastián Piñera on the one-year anniversary of a fire at San Miguel Prison, where 81 prisoners died and 14 others were injured.
OAKLAND- A federal judge has ordered the state to do a better job of monitoring care of disabled parolees in county jails, saying “overwhelming and disturbing evidence” shows they are denied adequate care. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled state officials must give every county a daily list of disabled parolees in its jail and ensure they receive adequate care.
SAN QUENTIN – Death Row prisoner Rodney Alcala is facing charges of strangling two women in New York. Extradition was stayed until his appeal is settled. He is facing execution for murdering four women and a 12-year-old girl in Orange County.