Opinion ID: 1121458
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jailhouse Reports

Text: (34a) In an effort to impeach Dr. Raffle's opinion that defendant was remorseful about the death of Rosie Grover, the prosecutor asked Raffle whether his opinion on this subject would be affected if he learned that defendant had displayed a boastful, cocky attitude about the crime while he was in the Mendocino County jail. At trial, the only objection to this line of questioning was that the defendant had not received a copy of the report from which this comment was taken. (35) A defendant who does not object and seek an admonition to disregard improper statements, argument or inquiry by the prosecutor waives any such error unless the harm caused could not have been corrected by appropriate instruction or retraction. ( People v. Bell (1989) 49 Cal.3d 502, 547 [262 Cal. Rptr. 1, 778 P.2d 129].) (34b) Clearly, any harm caused by the prosecutor's reference to the content of this report could have been corrected if an objection had been made at trial. Therefore, defendant's claim is waived. Putting aside the procedural barrier, we need not decide whether the prosecutor erred, because any harm resulting from the use of the report did not result in a miscarriage of justice within the meaning of article VI, section 13 of the California Constitution. ( People v. Lewis (1990) 50 Cal.3d 262, 282 [266 Cal. Rptr. 834, 786 P.2d 892].) The questions regarding the jailhouse report were a very brief portion of an extensive and effective cross-examination of this witness. Moreover, the jailhouse report was not the only evidence used to question the witness's conclusions regarding the defendant's feelings of remorse for the crimes. (See, post, at pp. 1016-1017.) Under these circumstances, we find that no prejudice accrued to the defendant.