Sacramento County sheriff criticizes California crime policies

With about a month left for California lawmakers and the governor to pass new laws for the year, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper voiced frustration over the state’s crime policies, citing issues with mental health diversion, domestic violence laws, and funding for Proposition 36, while urging lawmakers to prioritize victims’ rights. Cooper spoke about the issues in a wide-ranging conversation on California Politics 360. California’s homicide rate has reached its lowest level in nearly six decades, with nearly 67% of killings last year involving a gun. Cooper suggested the statistics may not represent the full story and said more needs to be done in California to address crime and support victims. When asked about the efforts of lawmakers and Governor Gavin Newsom on crime, Cooper said, “Not enough. Not enough.” He expressed frustration over the lack of progress on reforms such as mental health diversion, elderly parole, and Proposition 36. “It’s just frustrating that people are hesitant to do anything,” he said. California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 36 in 2024, which aimed to increase penalties for repeat thieves and drug dealers. It also created a treatment-mandated felony, an option for those convicted to get mental health or substance abuse treatment in order to get the felony charge dropped. Cooper noted that it passed with 70% voter approval across all 58 counties. “Not one statewide official supported it. And that’s troubling,” he said. While law enforcement has been enforcing Proposition 36, Cooper emphasized the lack of funding for its implementation. “The issue is no funding, no funding came with it,” he said.Despite this, he noted some positive changes, with retailers observing a reduction in theft. “It is working. But without funding, it doesn’t go anywhere,” he added. He acknowledged some people are committing the crimes and then getting released without treatment, blaming the lack of full implementation of the law. Lawmakers and the governor said they appropriated $375 million this year to help implement the new law but budget documents show direct funding specifically for the new law is $50 million to help courts with the workload and pretrial services.Cooper also addressed California’s mental health diversion program, which allow individuals to receive treatment instead of facing traditional consequences for certain crimes. He expressed concern about a proposed bill that would add theft to the list of crimes eligible for mental health diversion. “It would water it down,” he said, referring to Prop 36, adding that some lawmakers “don’t want anybody held accountable.” While lawmakers and the governor recently passed a new law to add guardrails to mental health diversion, Cooper believes it may not be enough. “Some crimes are so shocking… you shouldn’t be eligible for mental health diversion,” he said, pointing to crimes like felony child abuse and those committed by sexually violent predators.The sheriff criticized the state’s failure to classify domestic violence as a violent felony, despite its severity. He recounted cases, including one where a man beat his ex-wife for three days, leaving her unconscious, and another where a man gouged out his partner’s eyes. “Domestic violence goes on every day. Doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor. Happens in every neighborhood. We have to treat it seriously,” Cooper said. When asked about the argument against classifying domestic violence as a violent felony, Cooper said, “They have no argument. They just vote against it.” Cooper concluded by emphasizing the need to prioritize victims’ rights and hold perpetrators accountable. “We’ve got to get back to the victims,” he said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google

With about a month left for California lawmakers and the governor to pass new laws for the year, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper voiced frustration over the state’s crime policies, citing issues with mental health diversion, domestic violence laws, and funding for Proposition 36, while urging lawmakers to prioritize victims’ rights.

Cooper spoke about the issues in a wide-ranging conversation on California Politics 360.

California’s homicide rate has reached its lowest level in nearly six decades, with nearly 67% of killings last year involving a gun. Cooper suggested the statistics may not represent the full story and said more needs to be done in California to address crime and support victims.

When asked about the efforts of lawmakers and Governor Gavin Newsom on crime, Cooper said, “Not enough. Not enough.” He expressed frustration over the lack of progress on reforms such as mental health diversion, elderly parole, and Proposition 36. “It’s just frustrating that people are hesitant to do anything,” he said.

California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 36 in 2024, which aimed to increase penalties for repeat thieves and drug dealers. It also created a treatment-mandated felony, an option for those convicted to get mental health or substance abuse treatment in order to get the felony charge dropped. Cooper noted that it passed with 70% voter approval across all 58 counties.

“Not one statewide official supported it. And that’s troubling,” he said.

While law enforcement has been enforcing Proposition 36, Cooper emphasized the lack of funding for its implementation. “The issue is no funding, no funding came with it,” he said.

Despite this, he noted some positive changes, with retailers observing a reduction in theft. “It is working. But without funding, it doesn’t go anywhere,” he added. He acknowledged some people are committing the crimes and then getting released without treatment, blaming the lack of full implementation of the law.

Lawmakers and the governor said they appropriated $375 million this year to help implement the new law but budget documents show direct funding specifically for the new law is $50 million to help courts with the workload and pretrial services.

Cooper also addressed California’s mental health diversion program, which allow individuals to receive treatment instead of facing traditional consequences for certain crimes. He expressed concern about a proposed bill that would add theft to the list of crimes eligible for mental health diversion. “It would water it down,” he said, referring to Prop 36, adding that some lawmakers “don’t want anybody held accountable.”

While lawmakers and the governor recently passed a new law to add guardrails to mental health diversion, Cooper believes it may not be enough. “Some crimes are so shocking… you shouldn’t be eligible for mental health diversion,” he said, pointing to crimes like felony child abuse and those committed by sexually violent predators.

The sheriff criticized the state’s failure to classify domestic violence as a violent felony, despite its severity. He recounted cases, including one where a man beat his ex-wife for three days, leaving her unconscious, and another where a man gouged out his partner’s eyes. “Domestic violence goes on every day. Doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor. Happens in every neighborhood. We have to treat it seriously,” Cooper said.

When asked about the argument against classifying domestic violence as a violent felony, Cooper said, “They have no argument. They just vote against it.”

Cooper concluded by emphasizing the need to prioritize victims’ rights and hold perpetrators accountable. “We’ve got to get back to the victims,” he said.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google