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BERKELEY, Calif. – It may be time to tailor students’ class schedules to their natural biological rhythms, according to a new study from the University of California, Berkeley, and Northeastern Illinois University.
Researchers tracked the personal daily online activity profiles of nearly 15,000 college students as they logged into campus servers.
After sorting the students into “night owls,” “daytime finches” and “morning larks” – based on their activities on days they were not in class – researchers compared their class times to their academic outcomes.
Their findings, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, show that students whose circadian rhythms were out of sync with their class schedules – say, night owls taking early morning courses – received lower grades due to “social jet lag,” a condition in which peak alertness times are at odds with work, school or other demands.
“We found that the majority of students were being jet-lagged by their class times, which correlated very strongly with decreased academic performance,” said study co-lead author Benjamin Smarr, a postdoctoral fellow who studies circadian rhythm disruptions in the lab of UC Berkeley psychology professor Lance Kriegsfeld.
In addition to learning deficits, social jet lag has been tied to obesity and excessive alcohol and tobacco use.
On a positive note: “Our research indicates that if a student can structure a consistent schedule in which class days resemble non-class days, they are more likely to achieve academic success,” said study co-lead author Aaron Schirmer, an associate professor of biology at Northeastern Illinois University.
Not only night owls at risk
While students of all categories suffered from class-induced jet-lag, the study found that night owls were especially vulnerable, many appearing so chronically jet lagged that they were unable to perform optimally at any time of day.
But it’s not as simple as students just staying up too late, Smarr said
“Because owls are later and classes tend to be earlier, this mismatch hits owls the hardest, but we see larks and finches taking later classes and also suffering from the mismatch,” said Smarr. “Different people really do have biologically diverse timing, so there isn’t a one-time-fits-all solution for education.”
In what is thought to be the largest-ever survey of social jet lag using real-world data, Smarr and Schirmer analyzed the online activity of 14,894 Northeastern Illinois University students as they logged in and out of the campus’ learning management system over two years.
To separate the owls from the larks from the finches, and gain a more accurate alertness profile, the researchers tracked students’ activity levels on days that they did not attend a class.
Majority out of sync with class times
Next, they looked at how larks, finches and owls had scheduled their classes during four semesters from 2014 to 2016 and found that about 40 percent were mostly biologically in sync with their class times. As a result, they performed better in class and enjoyed higher GPAs.
However, 50 percent of the students were taking classes before they were fully alert, and another 10 percent had already peaked by the time their classes started.
Previous studies have found that older people tend to be active earlier while young adults shift to a later sleep-wake cycle during puberty. Overall, men stay up later than women, and circadian rhythms shift with the seasons based on natural light.
Finding these patterns reflected in students’ login data spurred researchers to investigate whether digital records might also reflect the biological rhythms underlying people’s behavior.
The results suggest that “rather than admonish late students to go to bed earlier, in conflict with their biological rhythms, we should work to individualize education so that learning and classes are structured to take advantage of knowing what time of day a given student will be most capable of learning,” Smarr said.
Yasmin Anwar writes for the UC Berkeley News Center.
Researchers tracked the personal daily online activity profiles of nearly 15,000 college students as they logged into campus servers.
After sorting the students into “night owls,” “daytime finches” and “morning larks” – based on their activities on days they were not in class – researchers compared their class times to their academic outcomes.
Their findings, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, show that students whose circadian rhythms were out of sync with their class schedules – say, night owls taking early morning courses – received lower grades due to “social jet lag,” a condition in which peak alertness times are at odds with work, school or other demands.
“We found that the majority of students were being jet-lagged by their class times, which correlated very strongly with decreased academic performance,” said study co-lead author Benjamin Smarr, a postdoctoral fellow who studies circadian rhythm disruptions in the lab of UC Berkeley psychology professor Lance Kriegsfeld.
In addition to learning deficits, social jet lag has been tied to obesity and excessive alcohol and tobacco use.
On a positive note: “Our research indicates that if a student can structure a consistent schedule in which class days resemble non-class days, they are more likely to achieve academic success,” said study co-lead author Aaron Schirmer, an associate professor of biology at Northeastern Illinois University.
Not only night owls at risk
While students of all categories suffered from class-induced jet-lag, the study found that night owls were especially vulnerable, many appearing so chronically jet lagged that they were unable to perform optimally at any time of day.
But it’s not as simple as students just staying up too late, Smarr said
“Because owls are later and classes tend to be earlier, this mismatch hits owls the hardest, but we see larks and finches taking later classes and also suffering from the mismatch,” said Smarr. “Different people really do have biologically diverse timing, so there isn’t a one-time-fits-all solution for education.”
In what is thought to be the largest-ever survey of social jet lag using real-world data, Smarr and Schirmer analyzed the online activity of 14,894 Northeastern Illinois University students as they logged in and out of the campus’ learning management system over two years.
To separate the owls from the larks from the finches, and gain a more accurate alertness profile, the researchers tracked students’ activity levels on days that they did not attend a class.
Majority out of sync with class times
Next, they looked at how larks, finches and owls had scheduled their classes during four semesters from 2014 to 2016 and found that about 40 percent were mostly biologically in sync with their class times. As a result, they performed better in class and enjoyed higher GPAs.
However, 50 percent of the students were taking classes before they were fully alert, and another 10 percent had already peaked by the time their classes started.
Previous studies have found that older people tend to be active earlier while young adults shift to a later sleep-wake cycle during puberty. Overall, men stay up later than women, and circadian rhythms shift with the seasons based on natural light.
Finding these patterns reflected in students’ login data spurred researchers to investigate whether digital records might also reflect the biological rhythms underlying people’s behavior.
The results suggest that “rather than admonish late students to go to bed earlier, in conflict with their biological rhythms, we should work to individualize education so that learning and classes are structured to take advantage of knowing what time of day a given student will be most capable of learning,” Smarr said.
Yasmin Anwar writes for the UC Berkeley News Center.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 20th session of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy is scheduled to commence on May 31 in Lakeport.
Since the academy’s inception in January of 1998, more than 300 members of the community have successfully completed the program.
The Citizens’ Academy has proven to be a highly successful endeavor to educate residents of Lake County on the operations of the sheriff’s office, as well as the issues relating to law enforcement and the judicial system in general.
The Citizens’ Academy has brought the communities of Lake County closer to their sheriff’s office with each graduating class and in 2002, the program received the “Stars of Lake County” award for best idea of the year in Lake County.
While the program is primarily intended for members of the community simply seeking to become more informed on law enforcement issues, those contemplating a career in law enforcement are also welcome to apply. The curriculum and teaching methods are similar to that of a basic law enforcement academy.
However, the overall focus of the program is to provide a better understanding of the policies and procedures of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as the approach taken to provide law enforcement services to Lake County communities.
Subject matters for the academy include: The history of the office of the sheriff; the selection and training process for new employees; field training program; central dispatch operations; the role and responsibilities of the uniformed deputy; gang enforcement; criminal investigations; crime scene investigations; elder abuse investigations; sex crimes investigations; jail operations; use of force; marine patrol services; narcotics investigations; the civil process; coroner’s investigations; press relations; tactical (SWAT/SERT) operations; school resource deputy; search and rescue operations; K-9 enforcement; internal affairs investigations; marijuana investigations; the sheriff’s chaplain program; and the budget process.
The program consists of 15, three hour classes offering classroom and “hands-on” instruction by deputy sheriffs, custody staff, supervisors, civilian employees and command staff whose assignments are specific to their respective subject of training.
Classes will be held on Thursdays at 6 p.m. and conclude each night at 9 p.m.
There is no cost to those attending the academy. However, applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:
• Resident or employment in Lake County;
• At least 18 years of age;
• No felony convictions;
• No misdemeanor convictions within three years;
• Able to attend all fifteen sessions.
Anyone interested in becoming a more informed member of the community is encouraged to participate in this worthwhile program.
Those wishing to enroll can do so by visiting the sheriff’s office web site at www.lakesheriff.com, where you will find a link for the application and instructions.
Applications must be received no later than May 16. Class size will be limited to 25 students.
Qualified applicants who are not selected for the Summer 2018 academy will be given priority in future academies.
For additional information, please contact the academy director, Lieutenant Corey Paulich, at 707-262-4234.
Since the academy’s inception in January of 1998, more than 300 members of the community have successfully completed the program.
The Citizens’ Academy has proven to be a highly successful endeavor to educate residents of Lake County on the operations of the sheriff’s office, as well as the issues relating to law enforcement and the judicial system in general.
The Citizens’ Academy has brought the communities of Lake County closer to their sheriff’s office with each graduating class and in 2002, the program received the “Stars of Lake County” award for best idea of the year in Lake County.
While the program is primarily intended for members of the community simply seeking to become more informed on law enforcement issues, those contemplating a career in law enforcement are also welcome to apply. The curriculum and teaching methods are similar to that of a basic law enforcement academy.
However, the overall focus of the program is to provide a better understanding of the policies and procedures of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as the approach taken to provide law enforcement services to Lake County communities.
Subject matters for the academy include: The history of the office of the sheriff; the selection and training process for new employees; field training program; central dispatch operations; the role and responsibilities of the uniformed deputy; gang enforcement; criminal investigations; crime scene investigations; elder abuse investigations; sex crimes investigations; jail operations; use of force; marine patrol services; narcotics investigations; the civil process; coroner’s investigations; press relations; tactical (SWAT/SERT) operations; school resource deputy; search and rescue operations; K-9 enforcement; internal affairs investigations; marijuana investigations; the sheriff’s chaplain program; and the budget process.
The program consists of 15, three hour classes offering classroom and “hands-on” instruction by deputy sheriffs, custody staff, supervisors, civilian employees and command staff whose assignments are specific to their respective subject of training.
Classes will be held on Thursdays at 6 p.m. and conclude each night at 9 p.m.
There is no cost to those attending the academy. However, applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:
• Resident or employment in Lake County;
• At least 18 years of age;
• No felony convictions;
• No misdemeanor convictions within three years;
• Able to attend all fifteen sessions.
Anyone interested in becoming a more informed member of the community is encouraged to participate in this worthwhile program.
Those wishing to enroll can do so by visiting the sheriff’s office web site at www.lakesheriff.com, where you will find a link for the application and instructions.
Applications must be received no later than May 16. Class size will be limited to 25 students.
Qualified applicants who are not selected for the Summer 2018 academy will be given priority in future academies.
For additional information, please contact the academy director, Lieutenant Corey Paulich, at 707-262-4234.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – On Friday, Upper Lake celebrated its newest postmaster, a community member who has quickly worked her way up through the ranks to earn the job.
Angie Gross took her oath from Post Office Operations Manager Maria Lane, the woman who hired her, at the Friday afternoon ceremony at the Upper Lake Grange Hall.
Gross is the latest in a long line of postmasters stretching back to Upper Lake’s first, James G. Musick, who was appointed in 1858. She succeeds former Upper Lake Postmaster Kristi Rico.
A wife and mother of three who lives in Witter Springs, Gross began her U.S. Postal Service career in 2012 as a clerk in the Upper Lake Post Office.
She quickly moved into a management position as officer in charge in Upper Lake in 2014. Gross was officially promoted to postmaster in Upper Lake in January.
In her new job, she manages five employees who serve a community of 1,052 residents. She oversees more than 1,200 rural daily mail deliveries and 658 Post Office box deliveries.
Work in the Postal Service is a family affair; Gross’ mother-in-law, Patricia Gross, took her oath as Nice’s postmaster in April 2017, as Lake County News has reported.
About 50 people – including around half a dozen current and former postmasters from around the region – attended Gross’ swearing-in ceremony.
“It’s always held a dear place in my heart,” Hill said of Upper Lake’s post office and community.
She greeted community members with hugs and handshakes before and after the event.
Even in the digital age, the Post Office and its postmaster remain important to rural communities like Upper Lake, Hill said.
“It’s still definitely relevant,” she said.
Hill told Lake County News that it’s important to have the right people in the postmaster job and for them to have the community’s support.
She said the best part of her job is getting to hire good people, and finding the right fit for the community.
Before administering the oath to Gross, Hill lauded her for understanding the job. “This woman gets it.”
While the technical aspect of the work is important, Hill suggested customer service is even more critical, and commented on Gross’ sweet nature and customer-oriented approach.
When Gross took her oath, husband Kevin and their three children – Dominic, 13, Ethan, 6, and Wyatt, 2 – looked on from the front row.
While his mom was still taking her oath, Wyatt climbed up onto the stage and made his way to her, and then made a beeline for the grange’s piano. His older brother Ethan stopped him before the event turned musical.
Gross said she was very thankful for everyone who attended.
“It means a lot that I’m able to be postmaster of my community,” Gross said.
She added, “I’m very excited and happy.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Friday, the state’s attorney general filed suit against Sutter Health, alleging that the organization is engaging in anticompetitive practices that are driving up costs for patients across Northern California, while a system executive said their costs are below those of the region’s other hospitals.
Sutter Health is reported to be the largest hospital system in California. Its network includes 24 acute care hospitals – among them, Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport – along with, 31 ambulatory surgery centers, nine cancer centers, six specialty care centers, nine major physician organizations, 8,200 physicians and 48,000 employees located in 19 counties in Northern California. It also negotiates contracts on behalf of a variety of other affiliated physician groups, the largest being the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who said he is trying to restore competition in the California health care market, filed the 49-page suit against Sutter Health in the San Francisco Superior Court. A copy of it can be seen below.
The suit alleges violations of California’s Cartwright Act – similar to federal antitrust laws – which prohibits anticompetitive activity, such as price fixing and agreements among competitors to restrict trade.
“Sutter Health is throwing its weight around in the health care market, engaging in illegal, anticompetitive pricing that hurts California families,” Becerra said in a written statement. “These tactics are risking Californians’ lives by driving up the cost of health care for everyone. Big business should not be able to throttle competition at the expense of patients. The California Department of Justice is dedicated to ensuring that all families in our state can access quality, affordable healthcare no matter where they live.”
“We are aware that a complaint was filed, but we have not seen it at this time, so we cannot comment on specific claims,” said Sutter Health spokesperson Karen Garner in a statement released Friday to Lake County News.
The suit lists three causes of action: price tampering and fixing, unreasonable restraint of trade and combination to monopolize, all in violation of the Cartwright Act.
The newly filed court document outlines concerns about rising health care costs in California, “far outstripping population growth or inflation.” From 1999 to 2009, the state’s health care costs grew 111 percent, compared to a 15-percent population increase, based on the suit.
It referenced a 2011 Los Angeles Times analysis that found that hospitals in Northern California’s six most populous counties collected 56 percent more revenue per patient per day from insurance companies and patients than hospitals in Southern California’s six largest counties.
The suit also cited a study from 2015 that showed that these higher costs persist, and that insurance premiums offered through Covered California are 16 to 48 percent more expensive in San Francisco than in Southern California.
“That these increased costs are due to increased market concentration in healthcare provider markets in Northern California, and no other factors, has been observed by studies and public analysis,” the suit stated.
The document goes on to state, “Much of the increased cost of healthcare in Northern California is attributable to Sutter and its anticompetitive contractual practices which it has imposed as a result of its market power. Specifically, Sutter embarked on an intentional, and successful, strategy of securing market power in certain local markets in Northern California.”
In his suit Becerra is alleging that Sutter Health attempted to control prices and exclude competition, foreclosed price competition by its competitors and, as a result, imposed prices for hospital services and ancillary products that far exceeded the prices it would have been able to charge in an unconstrained, competitive market.
Becerra’s complaint also alleges that the excess profits Sutter Health received from illegal pricing practices went toward waves of acquisitions, extreme levels of executive compensation and financing its own insurance arm.
Sutter Health’s Garner maintained that the organization’s rates are lower than others in the region.
“Sutter Health is proud to save patients, government payers and health plans hundreds of millions of dollars each year by providing more efficient and integrated care,” Garner said.
She said it’s important to note that publicly available data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, or OSHPD, show that, on average, total charges for an inpatient stay in a Sutter hospital are lower than what other Northern California hospitals charge.
“Further, Sutter Health has held average overall rate increases to health plans to the low single digits since 2012 in spite of our actual expenses for labor, facilities and technology increasing more than 37 percent during the same time period. We don’t know why some health plans have increased their rates to consumers as much as 20 percent annually,” she said.
Garner said healthy competition and choice exists across Northern California.
“There are 15 major hospital systems and 142 hospitals in Northern California, including Kaiser Permanente, Dignity, Adventist, Tenet, UC and more. And health plans can elect to include or exclude parts of the Sutter Health system from their networks, and health plans have been doing so for many years,” Garner said.
Becerra’s suit against Sutter Health took place in the same week that he called for action in light of a new report by University of California Berkeley’s Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare.
That report’s documents show how the rapid consolidation of health care markets in California has led to rising health care costs for consumers throughout the state.
Becerra’s Friday statement said that UC Berkeley report showed market consolidation in Northern California to be “especially glaring,” with the cost of the average inpatient hospital procedure in Northern California, $223,278, exceeded that in Southern California, $131,586.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Sutter Health is reported to be the largest hospital system in California. Its network includes 24 acute care hospitals – among them, Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport – along with, 31 ambulatory surgery centers, nine cancer centers, six specialty care centers, nine major physician organizations, 8,200 physicians and 48,000 employees located in 19 counties in Northern California. It also negotiates contracts on behalf of a variety of other affiliated physician groups, the largest being the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who said he is trying to restore competition in the California health care market, filed the 49-page suit against Sutter Health in the San Francisco Superior Court. A copy of it can be seen below.
The suit alleges violations of California’s Cartwright Act – similar to federal antitrust laws – which prohibits anticompetitive activity, such as price fixing and agreements among competitors to restrict trade.
“Sutter Health is throwing its weight around in the health care market, engaging in illegal, anticompetitive pricing that hurts California families,” Becerra said in a written statement. “These tactics are risking Californians’ lives by driving up the cost of health care for everyone. Big business should not be able to throttle competition at the expense of patients. The California Department of Justice is dedicated to ensuring that all families in our state can access quality, affordable healthcare no matter where they live.”
“We are aware that a complaint was filed, but we have not seen it at this time, so we cannot comment on specific claims,” said Sutter Health spokesperson Karen Garner in a statement released Friday to Lake County News.
The suit lists three causes of action: price tampering and fixing, unreasonable restraint of trade and combination to monopolize, all in violation of the Cartwright Act.
The newly filed court document outlines concerns about rising health care costs in California, “far outstripping population growth or inflation.” From 1999 to 2009, the state’s health care costs grew 111 percent, compared to a 15-percent population increase, based on the suit.
It referenced a 2011 Los Angeles Times analysis that found that hospitals in Northern California’s six most populous counties collected 56 percent more revenue per patient per day from insurance companies and patients than hospitals in Southern California’s six largest counties.
The suit also cited a study from 2015 that showed that these higher costs persist, and that insurance premiums offered through Covered California are 16 to 48 percent more expensive in San Francisco than in Southern California.
“That these increased costs are due to increased market concentration in healthcare provider markets in Northern California, and no other factors, has been observed by studies and public analysis,” the suit stated.
The document goes on to state, “Much of the increased cost of healthcare in Northern California is attributable to Sutter and its anticompetitive contractual practices which it has imposed as a result of its market power. Specifically, Sutter embarked on an intentional, and successful, strategy of securing market power in certain local markets in Northern California.”
In his suit Becerra is alleging that Sutter Health attempted to control prices and exclude competition, foreclosed price competition by its competitors and, as a result, imposed prices for hospital services and ancillary products that far exceeded the prices it would have been able to charge in an unconstrained, competitive market.
Becerra’s complaint also alleges that the excess profits Sutter Health received from illegal pricing practices went toward waves of acquisitions, extreme levels of executive compensation and financing its own insurance arm.
Sutter Health’s Garner maintained that the organization’s rates are lower than others in the region.
“Sutter Health is proud to save patients, government payers and health plans hundreds of millions of dollars each year by providing more efficient and integrated care,” Garner said.
She said it’s important to note that publicly available data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, or OSHPD, show that, on average, total charges for an inpatient stay in a Sutter hospital are lower than what other Northern California hospitals charge.
“Further, Sutter Health has held average overall rate increases to health plans to the low single digits since 2012 in spite of our actual expenses for labor, facilities and technology increasing more than 37 percent during the same time period. We don’t know why some health plans have increased their rates to consumers as much as 20 percent annually,” she said.
Garner said healthy competition and choice exists across Northern California.
“There are 15 major hospital systems and 142 hospitals in Northern California, including Kaiser Permanente, Dignity, Adventist, Tenet, UC and more. And health plans can elect to include or exclude parts of the Sutter Health system from their networks, and health plans have been doing so for many years,” Garner said.
Becerra’s suit against Sutter Health took place in the same week that he called for action in light of a new report by University of California Berkeley’s Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare.
That report’s documents show how the rapid consolidation of health care markets in California has led to rising health care costs for consumers throughout the state.
Becerra’s Friday statement said that UC Berkeley report showed market consolidation in Northern California to be “especially glaring,” with the cost of the average inpatient hospital procedure in Northern California, $223,278, exceeded that in Southern California, $131,586.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
033018 AG's complaint against Sutter Health by LakeCoNews on Scribd
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – There has been a change of leadership at one of Lake County’s largest nonprofit organizations.
The Lake Family Resource Center Board of Directors announced Friday that it has appointed Lisa Morrow as the nonprofit’s interim executive director.
She succeeds Jennifer Dodd, who had led the organization since 2016, following the retirement of longtime executive director Gloria Flaherty.
Morrow has been with the organization since its inception and has served as the organization’s director of finance and operations for more than a decade.
The board said it intends to conduct a thorough recruitment for the permanent post of executive director and anticipates the position to be filled within 6 months.
Michele Meek, Lake Family Resource Center’s human resources director, will serve as primary contact for the recruitment and vetting, the board reported.
The nonprofit did not give details on Dodd’s departure, which appeared to have occurred on Thursday based on an automated email response Lake County News received after emailing Dodd about an announcement she had sent out earlier in the day regarding the Kelseyville Olive Festival.
Earlier this month, Dodd had announced the cancellation of Lake Family Resource Center’s popular Wine and Chocolate fundraiser suddenly and on short notice, which generated considerable negative comment on social media.
The nonprofit said Friday that Wine and Chocolate will return next February.
The Friday announcement said Lake Family Resource Center’s board and staff appreciate the support of the Lake County community during this transition and look forward to continuing to provide services supporting local families.
Lake Family Resource Center’s next event will be the Kelseyville Olive Festival to be held at Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill from 11 am. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 29.
The Lake Family Resource Center Board of Directors announced Friday that it has appointed Lisa Morrow as the nonprofit’s interim executive director.
She succeeds Jennifer Dodd, who had led the organization since 2016, following the retirement of longtime executive director Gloria Flaherty.
Morrow has been with the organization since its inception and has served as the organization’s director of finance and operations for more than a decade.
The board said it intends to conduct a thorough recruitment for the permanent post of executive director and anticipates the position to be filled within 6 months.
Michele Meek, Lake Family Resource Center’s human resources director, will serve as primary contact for the recruitment and vetting, the board reported.
The nonprofit did not give details on Dodd’s departure, which appeared to have occurred on Thursday based on an automated email response Lake County News received after emailing Dodd about an announcement she had sent out earlier in the day regarding the Kelseyville Olive Festival.
Earlier this month, Dodd had announced the cancellation of Lake Family Resource Center’s popular Wine and Chocolate fundraiser suddenly and on short notice, which generated considerable negative comment on social media.
The nonprofit said Friday that Wine and Chocolate will return next February.
The Friday announcement said Lake Family Resource Center’s board and staff appreciate the support of the Lake County community during this transition and look forward to continuing to provide services supporting local families.
Lake Family Resource Center’s next event will be the Kelseyville Olive Festival to be held at Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill from 11 am. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 29.
Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Friday announced that he has granted 56 pardons and 14 commutations.
Individuals who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply to the governor for a pardon.
Those granted pardons all completed their sentences years ago and the majority were convicted of drug-related or other nonviolent crimes. Pardons are not granted unless they are earned.
A gubernatorial pardon may be granted to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction.
The process includes eligible individuals obtaining a Certificate of Rehabilitation, which is an order from a superior court declaring that a person convicted of a crime is now rehabilitated. This requirement was waived for two individuals facing the possibility of deportation.
When a pardon is granted, the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are notified so that they may update their records on the applicant. The pardon is filed with the Secretary of State and the Legislature, and it is a public record.
The governor also granted 14 commutations to current inmates. Individuals currently serving a sentence for a conviction by the California courts can petition to have their sentence reduced by applying for a commutation.
In the majority of these commutations, the individuals have been granted the opportunity to make their case before the Board of Parole Hearings, which will determine whether they are ready to be paroled.
Copies of the gubernatorial pardons and commutations can be found below.
Additional information on pardons and commutations can be found here.
Individuals who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply to the governor for a pardon.
Those granted pardons all completed their sentences years ago and the majority were convicted of drug-related or other nonviolent crimes. Pardons are not granted unless they are earned.
A gubernatorial pardon may be granted to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction.
The process includes eligible individuals obtaining a Certificate of Rehabilitation, which is an order from a superior court declaring that a person convicted of a crime is now rehabilitated. This requirement was waived for two individuals facing the possibility of deportation.
When a pardon is granted, the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are notified so that they may update their records on the applicant. The pardon is filed with the Secretary of State and the Legislature, and it is a public record.
The governor also granted 14 commutations to current inmates. Individuals currently serving a sentence for a conviction by the California courts can petition to have their sentence reduced by applying for a commutation.
In the majority of these commutations, the individuals have been granted the opportunity to make their case before the Board of Parole Hearings, which will determine whether they are ready to be paroled.
Copies of the gubernatorial pardons and commutations can be found below.
Additional information on pardons and commutations can be found here.
March 2018 Pardons and Commutations by LakeCoNews on Scribd