HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2018-015 - Keep California Safe RESOLUTION NO. 2018-015
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF REDDING SUPPORTING THE REDUCING CRIME
AND KEEPING CALIFORNIA SAFE ACT OF 2018
WHEREAS, protecting every person in our state, including our most vulnerable
children, from violent crime is of the utmost importance. Murderers, rapists, child molesters
and other violent criminals should not be released early from prison; and
WHEREAS, since 2014, California has had a larger increase in violent crime than
the rest of the United States. Since 2013, violent crime in Los Angeles has increased 69.5%.
Violent crime in Sacramento rose faster during the first six months of 2015 than in any of
the 25 largest U.S. cities tracked by the FBI; and
WHEREAS, The FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report for 2017,
which tracks crimes committed during the first six months of the past year in U. S. cities
with populations over 100,000, indicates that last year violent crime increased again in most
of California's largest cities; and
WHEREAS, recent changes to parole laws allowed the early release of dangerous
criminals by the law's failure to define certain crimes as "violent." These changes allowed
individuals convicted of sex trafficking of children, rape of an unconscious person, felony
assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a police officer or firefighter, and felony domestic
violence to be considered "nonviolent offenders," and are eligible for early release from
prison after serving only a fraction of the sentence ordered by a judge; and
WHEREAS, violent offenders are also being allowed to remain free in our
communities even when they commit new crimes and violate the terms of their post release
community supervision, like the gang member charged with the murder of Whittier Police
Officer, Keith Boyer; and
WHEREAS, this measure reforms the law so felons who violate the terms of their
release can be brought back to court and held accountable for such violations; and
WHEREAS, nothing in this act is intended to create additional "strike" offenses
which would increase the state prison population, nor is it intended to affect the ability of the
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to award educational and merit C'
credits; and
CC
WHEREAS, recent changes to California law allow individuals who steal repeatedly
to face few consequences, regardless of their criminal record or how many times they steal; C
and
WHEREAS, as a result, between 2014 and 2016, California had the 2nd highest
increase in theft and property crimes in the United States, while most states have seen a
steady decline. According to the California Department of Justice, the value of property
stolen in 2015 was $2.5 billion with an increase of 13 percent since 2014, the largest single-
year increase in at least ten years; and
WHEREAS, grocery store operators around the state have seen unprecedented
increases in the amount of losses associated with shoplifting in their stores, with some
reporting up to 150% increases in these losses from 2012 to present, with the largest jumps
occurring since 2014; and
WHEREAS, shoplifting incidents have started to escalate in such a manner that
have endangered innocent customers and employees; and
WHEREAS, individuals who repeatedly steal, often do so to support their drug
habit. Recent changes to California law have reduced judges' ability to order individuals
convicted of repeated theft crimes into effective drug treatment programs; and
WHEREAS, California needs stronger laws for those who are repeatedly convicted
of theft related crimes, which will encourage those who repeatedly steal to support their drug
problem to enter into existing drug treatment programs. This measure enacts such reforms;
and
WHEREAS, recent changes to California law unintentionally eliminated DNA
collection for theft and drug crimes. This measure restores DNA collection from persons
convicted for such offenses, as collecting DNA from criminals is essential to solving violent
crimes. Over 450 violent crimes including murder, rape and robbery have gone unsolved
because DNA is being collected from fewer criminals; and
WHEREAS, permitting collection of more DNA samples will help identify
suspects, clear the innocent and free the wrongly convicted, and
WHEREAS, this measure does not affect existing legal safeguards that protect the
privacy of individuals by allowing for the removal of their DNA profile if they are not
charged with a crime, are acquitted or are found innocent; and
WHEREAS, DNA collected in 2015 from a convicted child molester solved the
rape-murders of two six-year-old boys that occurred three decades ago in Los Angeles
County. DNA collected in 2016 from an individual caught driving a stolen car solved the
2012 San Francisco Bay Area rape/murder of an 83-year-old woman.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Redding hereby supports the Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of
the City Council of the City of Redding on the 20th day of February, 2018, and was duly
adopted at said meeting by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: McElvain, Sullivan,Weaver, Winter, & Schreder
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ST'N SC DER, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
1 a44Y:Apcif
PAMELA MIZE ey Clerk BARRY E. DeWALTCit Attorney