DATE: September 27, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Lisa A. Smittcamp, District Attorney-Public Administrator
Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner
SUBJECT: Resolution Proclaiming Opposition to Proposition 57
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Authorize Chairman to execute Resolution proclaiming opposition to Proposition 57: Criminal Sentences. Parole. Juvenile Criminal Proceedings and Sentencing. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action would authorize the Chairman to execute the Resolution proclaiming opposition to Proposition 57 and calls on the voters of Fresno County to vote no on the so-called Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
The Board could choose not to execute the resolution in opposition.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. However, should Proposition 57 pass, there could be a fiscal impact.
DISCUSSION:
Over the previous five years, the State of California has seen an unprecedented release of criminals from the state prison system, due to a number of recent release programs such as Realignment, Proposition 36, Proposition 47, so-called Non-Violent Second Strike Release, Elderly Parole and expanded Youthful Offender Parole.
Prison inmates have already been given a substantially increased opportunity to earn credits for good behavior and educational achievements in excess of those authorized by the California Legislature. It is possible for a prison inmate to earn credits to reduce their sentence by as much as two-thirds. The California Attorney General recently reported that thousands of inmates have been released early due to these expanded credits.
While this is occurring, crime in California has shown a dramatic increase from 2014 to 2015. The statewide homicide rate increased almost 10%, Robbery and Aggravated Assault showed similarly substantial increases, and Auto Theft and Theft offenses were both up ...
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