Multiple California bills have been passed in the last few years that have resulted in criminals being released early. Unfortunately, there are countless cases of criminals who have been released early from prisons and jails only to go on to commit additional crimes. Recently, violent sex offenders have been the ones to benefit from recent bills resulting in early release.
How did this happen? In 2020, Assembly Bill 3234 lowered the age for elderly parole from 60 down to 50; this created a loophole in which violent sex offenders could be eligible for parole based on their age even after serving only 20 years of their sentence. It is also important to note that new convictions are also being treated lightly. In fact, data from the California Megan’s Law database shows that over 7,000 sex offenders convicted of “lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age,” or child sex abuse, were released the very same year that they were convicted. This is the most common offense found in the database, with over 19,000 occurrences; still, the average time served was only 35 months (2 years and 11 months).
It is important to note the bills that essentially paved the way for this. In 2014, Proposition 47 downgraded felonies to misdemeanors. In 2016, prison sentences were reduced, and violent crimes were reclassified as non-violent, allowing for early release.
All of these changes are essentially designed to reduce the populations in prisons and jails without any regard for the safety of society. Unfortunately, a large number of people who are part of these early releases or who have received a lesser sentence based on these new bills go on to reoffend and commit similar or even worse crimes.
Were you or a loved one harmed by a child molester that was released early from prison? If so, you might have some of the following questions:
- Is the State of California prison system liable or responsible for freeing a child molester that molested someone else after their release?
- Is the District Attorney liable or responsible for releasing a child molester or sex offender that went on to abuse others?
- Do I have a valid case against the District Attorney’s Office?
These are all valid questions. After all, if the offender had never been released, then you or your loved one would have never been harmed. If you have found yourself asking these questions, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Based on the details surrounding the incident and the harm that you or your child suffered, you could have the right to file a lawsuit and recover compensation.
For more information about the legal options available to you, contact the experts here at our law firm immediately. Here at the Normandie Law Firm, we have decades of experience handling all sorts of injury claims and are ready to do whatever it takes to protect your rights and help you recover the settlement that you are owed. If you are ready to discuss your legal options with our experts, contact us today.
An Example Lawsuit Related to an Early Release
The widow of a El Monte police sergeant killed after responding to reports of a stabbing at a motel in June of 2022 filed a $25 million lawsuit against the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The lawsuit alleges that the man who killed Sgt. Michael Paredes should have been behind bars. The gunman, William Flores, who was also killed in the incident had a prior conviction for burglary and was on probation for a gun charge. Allegedly, the gunman was out because of the District Attorney’s lenient policies. The widow stated that it was the DA’s responsibility to make sure that the gunman was following the law while out on probation.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$2.5 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$54 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
Can I Sue for Child Sexual Abuse if the Offender was Recently Released?
Yes – you could have grounds to file a lawsuit if you or a loved one suffered harm directly associated with an early release. Whether the attacker was mistakenly released or the release was rightful but the DA’s office failed to follow through with parole or probation requirements, you could sue. For more information about your right to sue, contact the experts here at our law firm immediately. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with absolutely all the information that you need to better understand your legal options.
Your Right to Compensation
Based on the details surrounding your lawsuit, you could be entitled to receive compensation. Although every claim is different, some of the categories of compensation available for recovery could include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs
- Punitive damages
- Legal fees
Of course, the specific type and amount of compensation that you are eligible to receive will always be based on the details surrounding your specific claim. When you allow the experts here at our law firm to handle your claim, however, you can trust that there will always be someone aggressively fighting for your rights and helping you secure the highest settlement available for your claim.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations Available for Your Child Sex Abuse Case
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations – or a deadline to sue. If your claim is not filed on time, then you could lose your right to file a lawsuit entirely. What deadline applies to your claim? In California, victims of child sex abuse have until the age of 40 (or within 5 years of discovering the abuse as an adult) to file a lawsuit. As of January 2020, victims of child sex abuse with expired claims have an additionally three-year window to file their claims. If you are unsure of the total length of time that you have to file your claim for sexual assault at the hands of someone that was released early on probation after being charged with sex crimes, contact the experts here at our firm immediately.
The Lawyers at the Normandie Law Firm Can Help You
Here at our firm, our child sex abuse lawyers are more than ready to take on your child sex abuse claim and fight for your rights. Our lawyers have decades of experience handling all sorts of injury claims, including claims stemming from child sex abuse. Whether the attacker was a first-time offender or someone who had been convicted in the past but released early, our lawyers are more than ready to fight for your rights and help you recover the highest settlement available for your claim. If you are ready to speak with our lawyers, contact us immediately.
We offer free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our expert lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. Our knowledgeable attorneys will provide you with all the information that you need to begin or continue your case. To benefit from these free legal services, contact us today.
Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal costs for any of our legal services. In addition, we work on a strict contingency structure. This means that our clients will not be required to pay anything until after winning their claims. If you do not win, you simply will not pay anything.
If you are ready to speak with our expert child abuse lawyers, contact us immediately. We are ready to help you every step of the way.
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