Mr. Jagels is frequently asked to participate in newspaper, radio and television discussions on such subjects as "Three Strikes and Your Out," victim’s rights, court reform, and legislation.    A strong proponent of public safety, he was the Kern County co-chairman of Proposition 8, the "Victims Bill of Rights," in 1982.    In 1986, he was the steering committee chairman for Crime Victims for Court Reform, the principal organization campaigning for the defeat of California Supreme Court Justices Bird, Grodin, and Reynoso.   In 1990, he was co-author of the "Crime Victims Justice Reform Act"  ( Prop. 115), a sweeping criminal procedure reform, and chairman of its campaign organization, the Crime Victims California Justice Committee. 

Larry E. Bentley
Chief Investigator

Chief Investigator Larry E. Bentley came to the District Attorney’s Office in 1987, after transferring from the Kern County Sheriff’s Department where he had served since 1969. He was appointed Lieutenant in 1990 and has served as Chief Investigator since 2000. His tenure with the Kern County Sheriff’s Department included service in Detentions, Detectives, Communications, Metro Patrol, Vice and Narcotics. Chief Bentley holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Bakersfield College and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. Bentley also holds a P.O.S.T. Management certificate and is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy.