A Los Angeles Times article highlighted the continuing fallout from Prop 57, with the poorly drafted initiative allowing early release of numerous violent felons and the early release of sex offenders not far behind after a recent court ruling. Of course, it didn’t have to be this way, and it is thanks to Governor Jerry […]
We repeatedly warned prior to the election that the ambiguities of language in Prop 57 would allow sex offenders to be released early from prison. The proponents realized the public wouldn’t support that, so led by Governor Jerry Brown they responded by promising that CDCR would write regulations to make sure sex-offenders weren’t released early. […]
In a recent interview, District Attorney George Gascon offered this comment regarding the car break-in epidemic in San Francisco: “What’s driving the numbers is understanding the likelihood of consequences is very low.” Of course, that obvious conclusion applies to California’s rising property crime rate in all categories, not just car break-ins. What is undeniably ironic […]
The critical feature of an op/ed is that it is opinion and commentary rather than investigative journalism. As the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once observed, everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. In a recent foray, columnist Sal Rodriguez mixed “facts” in with personal attacks to argue that criminal […]
Imagine the reaction if, after a loan officer told an applicant they would not receive a loan because of too much debt, the applicant asked “How about we just disregard 25% of my debt?” As illogical as this sounds, it was the approach recently articulated by a group seeking to downplay the crime rate increases […]
We extensively chronicled how the Prop 57 campaign was sold on the lie that only “non-violent” criminals would be released early from their lawfully imposed state prison terms. The decision on who gets the early release is now in the hands of the Board of Parole, whose release decisions show an appalling disregard of fact and reality. […]
As Governor Brown enters his final years in office, legislation he has proposed, signed and vetoed in the past year make it crystal clear he wants convicted criminals to serve as little time as possible. Three changes in the criminal justice system illustrate his beliefs. First is Prop 57 which the Governor wrote and campaigned […]
California has imposed multiple restrictions on guns in recent years, including restrictions on gun capacity, possession and even purchase of ammunition. Yet SB 620, which has been sent to the Governor for his approval or veto, would loosen penalties for those convicted of using a gun in a crime. Multiple shots fired during a drive-by […]
We are pleased with the Courts decision to uphold the will of the voters. Prop. 66 preserves the death penalty for the most heinous criminals by enacting critically needed reforms to the system. The court recognized that Californians not only voted to keep the death penalty but also to reform the appellate court system and […]
Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature steadfastly refuse to address even the most egregious flaws in their beloved soft-on-crime initiative, Proposition 47. But despite their obstinacy, a droplet of positive news has trickled out of Sacramento. The California Supreme Court has ruled that judges have wide discretion to refuse to shorten the sentences of third-strike […]
