Just a week ago, California Attorney General Kamala Harris released an alarming report detailing how violent crime in California is on the rise, increasing 10% over the last year.
Violent crimes were up last year by about 15,000 to a high of 166,588. Homicides went up 9.7 percent, robberies 8.5 percent, aggravated assaults 8 percent. Rapes increased 36 percent!
It is in this environment that Governor Jerry Brown has placed before voters this November a ballot measure deceptively titled the “Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016” – when it might be more accurately dubbed the “Let Violent Criminals Out Of Prison Early Act of 2016.”
The measure, now officially Proposition 57, purports to allow for early release only of those inmates who have committed “non-violent offenses,” but is written in a way that even a spokesperson for the initiative says will only prevent early release for those who committed 23 specific violent crimes.
Here are just some of the supposedly “non-violent crimes” for which early release would be possible if this measure is passed: rape by intoxication, rape of an unconscious person, human trafficking involving sex act with minors, drive-by shooting, assault with a deadly weapon, taking a hostage, domestic violence involving trauma, possession of a bomb or weapon of mass destruction, hate crime causing physical injury, arson causing great bodily injury, discharging a firearm on school grounds, corporal injury to a child, and false imprisonment of an elderly person. The list actually goes on an on.
In addition to significantly reducing the time a vast number of violent criminals would have to serve before being eligible for parole, the Governor’s measure actually allows bureaucrats at the Department of Corrections to give “time off for good behavior” to literally any inmate in state prison, including those convicted of the most heinous criminal acts, including first-degree murder.
I suppose another equally valid ballot title for the measure could be the “California Crime Victim Re-victimization Act,” because the measure was purposely drafted to allow every prisoner currently serving time for the violent crimes listed above (and more) to be eligible for early release based on the new guidelines. Which means that all of the victims of these terrible acts, who had some degree of certainty as to the disposition of their attackers, would all have to wonder if suddenly their attackers would be back on the streets – much sooner than they had been promised by the criminal justice system.
Brown’s measure, in one broadly written provision, would overturn a number of previous tough-on-crime measures passed by California voters, including key provisions of Marsy’s Law; 3-Strikes-And-You’re-Out – the Victims’ Bill of Rights; the Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act; and the Gang Violence and Juvenile Crime Prevention Act.
Brown has so far spent over $5 million from a ballot measure advocacy committee he controls to put Prop 57 before the voters, and he still has over $20 million in that fund. He argues that these “reforms” are needed to address prison overcrowding, and also says that he very much regrets his support in 1977, as governor, for establishing determinative sentencing laws in California. These have led to the establishment of strict sentencing guidelines, mandatory minimum sentences, and enhanced sentences for certain crimes.
Brown also feels strongly that the current system provides no incentive for inmates to be exemplary while behind bars, and feels that with the carrot of reducing sentences that prison authorities can cause inmate behavior to change in a positive way, reducing recidivism.
A robust conversation about criminal justice reform is a good thing, and clearly some reforms are worthwhile to discuss, and even implement. However, in the case of this particularly dreadful ballot measure, its basic premise is a lie. Governor Brown wants to soften sentences and allow for early release of violent criminals – while trying to tell voters with a straight face that that is not what this measure actually does.
A final and disturbing fact: Attorney General (and United States Senate candidate) Kamala Harris is charged with writing an accurate title and summary for each ballot measure. As the state’s top prosecutor, Harris knows full well what this measure does, but still placed before voters the sentence, “Allows parole consideration for persons convicted of nonviolent felonies…”.
The question is whether general election voters, inundated with campaign messaging from not only a presidential election but from a boatload of other ballot measures, will understand this measure for what it actually is. Because if they just go by the ballot title and summary in front of them by Kamala Harris, thousands of very dangerous people will be back on the streets very, very soon.
Jon Fleischman is the Politics Editor of Breitbart California. A longtime participant, observer and chronicler of California politics, Jon is also the publisher at www.flashreport.org. His columns appears regularly on this page. You can reach Jon at jon@flashreport.org.
Reading Crime Mapping.com daily in my email is enough to scare a citizen. Who , in their right mind would want to release more criminals early, besides the relatives of prisoners?
It does seem like criminals reproduce more than law abiding people do
Meanwhile, Jerry want's ME to have a background check to buy bullets to protect myself. Who is the criminal here? I am having a hard time with this logic.
You are the danger to lefty progressive agenda. Worse yet, armed too.
Logic has NOTHING to do with it!!
Jerry has armed guards...why should he worry?
Interesting. The idea of disarming the public and then releasing criminals who don't follow the laws, back into the street to take advantage of an unarmed populace seems like something Anarchists would come up with....people in California aren't too bright are they?
No they are not!! Course it helps when a large part of your voting block are uneducated illegals....just look at Bell, CA and what happened there!!
jerry brown is an America destroying Obama flunky...
Sound like a stupid idea? Par for the course. Insanity is running amok throughout the democrat party.
The article did not address how the ballot measure got on the ballot. Originally Brown wanted to place it on the ballot without having to secure signatures like every other ballot initiative need do.
A judge ruled that Brown could not do that and stated Brown would have to gather signatures like anyother person or organization.
Brown then marshaled the state DOJ at the direction of AG Kamala Harris to argue in court that he had the right as Governor to place any measure he so wishes on the ballot.
As I have not heard that the judge's ruling had been overturned by a higher court, what happened? Did Brown secure signatures in a very fast manner? So quick as to be almost impossible. Or did Dem appointed judges in a higher court create a new executive power in CA?
I personally worked for that measure and I gathered signatures. The public was in complete agreement since the DA's of LA have a 99%conviction rate from their illegal actions. The public
understood that and frankly, only 2 out of 100 refused to sign!
Well if you have evidence the DA's office is involved in a criminal conspiracy go ahead and bring suit and or turn them in.
Otherwise you are just blowing wind..In fact you sound like one of those Anti police brutality protesters that used to march on May Day in LA and would end up as a mini riot where you would run down Main st loot a couple of liquor stores break store windows etc .. until illegal aliens co-opted your day
Meanwhile I have some advice that Chris Rock gives on how not to get your A** beat by the PO-lice. And every bit is useful and right on.. I suggest you watch his educational video ..
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
You missed the part out that must people were not told the real facts of what type of criminals were going to be released onto the streets in CA.
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No they rewrite the law to suit their objectives, and it will only get worse after the supermajority returns in the legislature come November.
The public employee unions have already announced their intention as of about 2 years ago, to fund Republican candidates to further cement their control of the govt. Why do you suppose Brown's huge budget was approved without any opposition last week.
Brown has qualified prop 57 to target 3 strikes law, but get ready for the gutting of Prop 13 and other staples of CA law that will give the Dems ever larger cash hoards and slush funds to spend on social benefits, social engineering, public employee benefits and pensions, and to pay off contributors.
The coddling of convicts to release them like a plague upon the public is a calculated plan. Consider the statements of LA Mayor Garcetti, who talks about criminals like they served in the military rather than were jailed for various criminal acts. He wants "to honor a debt of gratitude" to ex felons "for serving their sentence" in a speech that was given just prior to Memorial Day. Further he is putting pressure on state universities to remove questions about past criminal history as part of the application process. (Do you want your son or daughter in a dorm with a meth distributor, or a rapist, or ?)
But this is the way things are going in CA, and the soft headed stoned electorate is buying it hook line and sinker.
I'm sorry you actually feel that way. Most of the people got rail roaded into prison! Not everyone is a meth dealer and believe you me they are still out on the streets because they are corrupt and know how!
Most of the people in jail have not even had a trial!!! I can tell you now that they have incarcerated many that do not belong there at all. So now at least we can get some corrections. Just because the DA's can count to three does not mean that the things they are counting are valid!
Most of the people in jail have not even had a trial!!!
Makes sense as most have plead guilty and taken a soft plea bargain to save the state some money on the trial .
Surprise when you plead guilty it means you did the crime.. or the lower offense you plead guilty to.. Sounds pretty clear to me.
They demand the plea agreement to the point where no one gets to go to trial now so sleezy DA's are making the rules and sending people to prison through threats of death and life in prison! How sick is that?
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yes i read it and I agree that there is a perception by the ruling class that they are above the law and do not have to play by the rules of the average citizen.
or can he be prosecuted?...now that would be political justice ...
Now to be fair Jerry has been destroying CA and the USA decades before Obama came on scene. Why he was even a presidential candidate back when Obama was still getting stoned in preparation of being a constitutional scholar.
Moonbeam's portrait from his first time being governor was left looking cartoonish because he felt he had unfinished business
and now he's back, banning magazines and releasing criminals
just give Aztlan to mexico and get it over with
Turning California into Chicago one bill at a time.
all crime in CA violent and non violent is up approx 10%...coincidence??? Any logical thinking person would say YES!! Liberals NO!!
Liberalism is a mental disorder....hopefully there will be a cure found to counter this plague beset on the planet......please in the meantime spay and or neuter your liberal pets!
Liberals are just misguided, weak minded, without morals, and idiots!
Great:
With one hand, work to eliminate the rights of citizens to use lethal force to defend themselves against an attacker;
With the other hand, release tons of potential attackers into those citizens communities.
...Is it clear yet that the left despises America & Liberty?
Crime rates in California have gone up. Governor "moonbeam's" solution - release more criminals. The disgusting part is that democrats think this is a good idea.
Liberals are not sick people you that like to talk bad about them you are sick people
he's already spent 5 million tax payer dollars to pass prop 57? just because he's leaving the office doesn't mean he has an exit ticket to sell california down the river and make our streets less safe especially with all of the crime increases (violent and non violent).
Life in California just gets better and better. wow..
will the last person to leave please turn off the lights.
Oh no! We need a border on that state. I do not want ONE of those left loving liberals escaping what they have done to themselves. It is not fair to the rest of the country.
Just in time to coincide with their new gun laws.
Welcome to Chicago, er I mean California.
Letting out criminals while disarming their future victims.
Just a coincidence.
It's not like someone would be so cold and calculating that they would make life horrible for us so we would gladly give them more power over every aspect of our lives.
Oh, wait!
We ARE talking about Democrats, aren't we.
What is the purpose other than malicious destruction?
He takes away law-abiding people's ability to defend themselves and then releases Kublai Khan's Chorus Line on them. Somebody needs to bitch-slap this oik until he cries like the little girl he always wishes he was.
Elections are coming up, the Democrats have to get their base out of jail to vote multiple times.
The Kalli logic is, restrict law abiding citizens freedoms and liberties. Then bend over backwards for the ILLEGALS, CRIMINALS, NUT JOBS, etc. Yep, a failed state. Oh, how it sucks living in this cesspool.
Build more prisons. And while you're at it, force a total mental exam on Governor Brown for incompetence in handling his duties as California's Governor.
Wait a moment...yessss!...Jerry Brown would still try to pass his measures, even if his wife and family were murdered! Why? Because political life means more to him than anything else. Even if he had to be a hypocrite, and instead try to guise it as...PRINCIPLES!...CONVICTIONS!...ETHICS!. It was NICE of him to say that as Governor, he SHOULD be able to STICK any measures on a ballot, regardless of the laws, and judges ruling against it. What a guy! Al Capone would be proud of him.
Jerry Brown who was sired by a lawyer/father who was in politics: who lived in beautiful and low crime Oakland Hills, and is now moving into the Governor's Mansion has led a sheltered and crime free relaxed life in comparison to the regular citizens. He needs to live in a crime riddled neighborhood, where someone will brake into his house to steal, and gang rape his wife, torture her, and then smash her skull in for good measure. And do the same to him, have him survive and then see how he feels about the measures he wants to stuff down everyone's throat.
We need to put people in office who care about the citizens more than the criminals.
California, pull your head out and lets pay attention. How do Props 47 and later 57 get approved ? Everyone who voted for these props can think about that murdered officers family ...... when will this insanity end
Jerry Brown , Kamala Harris & the corrupted democrats pushed preposition 57 & was voted by the idiots in CA , now they all have the blood of this officer on their hands, but since it is not their family, they do not care!
OH NO- NOT VIOLENT!!! OH STOP! Do you know what often passes for 'violent' in America today??! A mutual pushing match and a race for the phone. Few actually call the police any more because of a REAL threat. They call because they're pissed and vengeful. I've seen it too many times. It's gotten to be a running joke for those 'in the know'. They hand out DV charges and simple assault/battery for the most mild of infractions. Most DV's are misdemeanors- as is a simple battery. The 'victim' reacts w/ hysteria and vengeance- in most cases. These laws were created to protect innocent women from marauding men; and mild mannered strangers from being accosted by tyrants. But that's NOT the majority of cases. I worked in law enforcement occupations and have seen a lot in my own life. I KNOW that the REAL bad guys/girls don't get the police called on them- because no one would dare. It's generally the poor schmucks who take a fall- for something silly (like a pushing match or spitting). But so many of you are kinda, well, stupid! You'd rather hire a drug dealer than someone who got into a pushing match with a roommate. Or is it 'liability'- and the fear that you'll be sued because of federal 'due diligence' laws??! Which is also STUPID! How about individual rehabilitation and reformation- leading to expungment; instead of blanket policies (because blanket policies DON'T WORK)?! By the way- women call the police A LOT more than men do. And I'm a woman- and a progressive. And educated. But I digress! Another reason Trump won- we are getting sick of 'professional elitist liberals' telling us who we should date, hire, or how to talk. Then you want to legislate it into a law; essentially making criminals of everyone. All in the name of 'civility' and 'fairness'?! By the time you're done, you'll have everything illegal. People will be afraid to leave their houses, eat like pigs- because you can't do anything else any more, play x-box all day, or sit on the computer. Oh wait....that's already happening! You've lost perspective loves. We're here to get it back.
