Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: New Law/Bill

I have a hard time believing Congress would pass such a bill in an election year, let alone that the President would sign it -- just days before the election, no less. If this alleged bill had already been passed it would make no sense for the President to wait three months before signing it. And if it was still under consideration in Congress, the President would have no reason to presume it would pass at all, let alone that it would be ready for his signature by a specific date.

Politics aside, there is no good reason to enact this type of law. I can understand giving elderly people a break, though even I would oppose such a change and I'm a liberal. Forty-five doesn't qualify as elderly in anyone's book and it makes no sense to give preferential treatment to criminals that age. Giving preferential treatment to criminals at *any* age will reduce their incentive to obey the law, and there is no apparent reason to reduce such incentives for any group of people -- including the elderly. Senior citizens who don't want to die in prison can get their wish simply by not breaking the law.

Re: New Law/Bill

Yeah, right. A politician is going to sign a bill lowering criminal sentences, in an election year no less. Dream on.