HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2019-120 - Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020RESOLUTION NO. 2019- 120
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING
SUPPORTING THE REDUCING CRIME AND KEEPING CALIFORNIA
SAFE ACT OF 2020
WHEREAS, protecting every person in our state, including our most vulnerable
children, from violent crime is of the utmost importance. Murderers, rapists, child molesters, sex
traffickers 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 percent.
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, 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 credits; 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, 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, 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 and fewer criminals; 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 offences. Permitting the collection of more DNA samples will help identify suspects, clear
the innocent, and free the wrongly convicted;
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 2020.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced at a regular meeting
of the City Council of the City of Redding on the 3rd day of December, 2019, and was duly
adopted at said meeting by the following vote:
AYES:
COUNCIL MEMBERS: Dacquisto, Resner, Schreder, Winter, and McElvain
NOES:
COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT:
COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN:
COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ATTEST:
PAMELA MIZE, C% Clerk
ADAM McELVAIN, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
BA RY E. e AL , City Attorney