WALNUT CREEK, CA, March 14, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Two newly released books by criminal attorney Willard Bakeman present a bold and thought-provoking challenge to the way the United States understands crime, punishment, and public safety. Drawing on more than five decades of experience across the criminal justice system, Bakeman examines controversial questions surrounding mental illness, legal responsibility, and the death penalty.

The first book, "Law, Liberty, and Mental Health: A Call for a New Legal System," addresses the growing intersection of violent crime, untreated mental illness, and substance abuse. Bakeman argues that modern legal priorities have increasingly placed individual liberty above public safety—even in situations where individuals pose a known danger. Through historical analysis, case studies, and legal examination, the book explores how deinstitutionalization and the decline of mental health care have left many individuals homeless, incarcerated, or untreated.

Bakeman draws comparisons to societal responses during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that sweeping public health restrictions were accepted to prevent harm, while legal systems remain reluctant to intervene in cases where untreated mental illness creates predictable risks to public safety.

His second book, "The Death Penalty Revisited," examines the longstanding debate surrounding capital punishment. Written from the rare perspective of a legal professional who has served both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney, the book explores the strongest arguments on both sides of the issue. Rather than advocating a specific position, Bakeman encourages readers to engage in thoughtful reflection about whether the death penalty truly fulfills the societal goals often claimed for it.

Together, these two books challenge readers to reconsider the moral and legal assumptions that shape modern American justice.

Both titles are available now on Amazon:
https://ln.run/yoKZn

Willard Bakeman is a California-based criminal attorney with more than fifty years of experience working at every level of the American criminal justice system. Over the course of his career, he has served as a Deputy District Attorney, Public Defender, and Criminal Defense Attorney, with extensive experience in homicide litigation.

Drawing from this rare perspective on both sides of the courtroom, Bakeman writes with authority about issues involving violence, punishment, mental illness, and the moral responsibilities embedded within the legal system. Originally from Boylston, New York, he is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law.

Through his writing, Bakeman seeks to encourage deeper public reflection on how legal systems can better balance liberty, justice, and the protection of society.

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