Aaron Read and Randy Perry

Legislative Advocates

Aaron Read & Associates, LLC

Two of the 10 most dangerous cities in the nation are in California — yet we continue to see criminal justice reforms being passed that lessen sentences, allow for early release and put public safety at risk.

Props 47, 57 and AB 109, combined, have released tens of thousands of inmates, straining local jails and fueling a new surge in local crime and homelessness. They have also limited DNA collection and redefined criminal theft, costing millions to business owners and consumers. PORAC opposed all three reforms. We can agree that because of these acts, there are more serious flaws in our current criminal justice system than ever before.

Under current law, rape of an unconscious person, trafficking a child for sex, assault of a peace officer, felony domestic violence and other similar crimes are no longer classified as violent felonies, making criminals convicted of these crimes eligible for early release. The release of these criminals without meeting the mental health, drug rehabilitation and reformative needs of the individuals often leads to homelessness and the continuous cycle of criminal behavior.

On October 30, a statewide ballot measure was filed with the Secretary of State in an attempt to fix the problems brought forth by recent criminal justice reforms. The initiative is sponsored by the California Public Safety Partnership (CAPSP), an alliance of law enforcement, public safety leaders, crime victims, child advocates and business leaders.

Specifically, the initiative takes action against crime on four fronts:

1) Expands the violent crimes list for early release parole consideration. Added crimes include:

Human trafficking of a child

Abducting a minor for prostitution

Rape by intoxication

Rape of an unconscious person

Felony sexual penetration, sodomy or oral copulation when drugs are used or the victim is unconscious

Drive-by shooting or shooting on foot at an inhabited dwelling or vehicle

Felony domestic violence

Felony assault with a deadly weapon

Solicitation to commit murder

Felony assault using force likely to produce great bodily injury

Assault with a caustic chemical

False imprisonment/taking a hostage when avoiding arrest or for use as a shield

Felony resisting a peace officer, causing death or serious injury

Exploding a bomb to injure people

Felony hate crime

Any felony where it is pled and proven that the defendant personally used a deadly weapon

Any crime with lifetime PC 290

Felony use of force or threats against a witness or victim of a crime

Felony elder or dependent adult abuse

This act also changes the standard of parole review from “Does inmate pose a danger to commit violence?” to “Does the inmate pose an unreasonable risk of creating victims as a result of felonious conduct if released from prison?”

2) Reinstates DNA collection for certain crimes that were reduced to misdemeanors under Prop 47. Multiple studies have shown that DNA collected from theft and drug offenders helps solve cases of rape, murder and other violent crimes. But since the passage of Prop 47, cold-case hits have fallen dramatically.

3) Makes serial theft a felony for offenders convicted of a third theft of property valued at $250 or more. Prop 47 reduced to a misdemeanor theft under $950, and failed to account for thieves who steal repeatedly, which has spawned an epidemic of shoplifting costing California’s retailers, small and large, an estimated $1 billion.

4) Requires a mandatory hearing to determine whether parole should be revoked for any parolee who violates the terms of their parole for the third time. Currently, parolees can violate parole repeatedly with little consequence. AB 109 bases parole solely on an offender’s commitment offense, resulting in the release of inmates with serious and violent criminal histories. Moreover, parolees who repeatedly violate the terms of their parole currently face few consequences, allowing them to remain on the street. In February 2017, just 10 days after being paroled, Michael Mejia shot and killed veteran Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer in a gun battle. Mejia had a long criminal history and had been arrested five times in the seven months leading up to Officer Boyer’s death. This tragedy could have been avoided.

PORAC assisted in initial research in the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018 and has been meeting with stakeholders, but at the time this article was written has not taken an official position on the 2018 initiative.