by erikbruce

Mental Health Diversion

There are many reasons why one finds themselves on the wrong side of the law. At The Bruce Law Firm, we’ve discovered that one of the primary causes can be traced to one’s struggle with their mental health. California law has an answer ¾ mental health diversion. Many attorneys are unfamiliar with California Penal Code section 1001.36. This law allows many people accused of a crime to undergo...

by erikbruce

New Rules for Bail in Criminal Cases

This just in from the California Supreme Court: “Late Wednesday the State Supreme Court posted an order on the docket of In re Humphrey (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 1006, pending as # S247278, granting precedential value to Part III of the Court of Appeal decision in the case. That section of the appellate opinion holds that due process requires consideration of the defendant’s financial...

by erikbruce

Common Sense Justice Reform

As a former member of law enforcement (deputy district attorney) with more than 25 years’ experience in the criminal justice system, I’ve had the opportunity to see the formative years that have led to the recent protests. Having also taught a college course on race since 2008, I’ve long maintained there is no mystery what could be done to reform the way we mete out justice. Some suggestions....

by erikbruce

Race in America

This fall, I’ve been asked to teach a college history course entitled Race, Ethnicity and Gender in American Culture. Each time I teach any history course I try to make it relevant to current events hopefully providing some opportunity for understanding how we arrived at our current place in time. Past themes have included an examination of how we remember the Civil War, the ongoing American...