Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper spearheads a ballot initiative to reform California’s Proposition 57.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper is pushing for changes to California’s Proposition 57, launching a ballot initiative Wednesday aimed at preventing sexually violent predators from being released under elderly parole laws.
“I’m fed up, I’m frustrated. It has to change. We have to put victims first,” Cooper said.
The proposal, titled “Protect Our Kids, Reform Prop 57,” would block certain offenders from early release consideration, a move Cooper says is necessary after recent cases in Sacramento involving convicted predators being considered for parole.
“The real damage of 57 that it gave the parole board way too much unfettered power,” Cooper said. “Every member of the parole board is appointed, not elected. They cannot even be told what to do by the governor. They routinely release violent inmates early, even after a jury trial and judicial sentencing.”
Cooper said voters did not fully understand Proposition 57 when it passed and believes the issue should return to the ballot.
The push follows cases involving individuals identified by the sheriff as David Alan Funston and Gregory Vogelsang, both convicted of crimes against children.
“What makes it so ironic in Sacramento, we have David Alan Funston, Mr. Vogelsang,” Cooper said. “He molested 7 girls and 1 boy, and I’m sure there are many more. Mr. Vogelsang molested 6 boys. That is the issue. What is the moral compass of this?”
Detectives with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said the number of victims in such cases is often higher than reported.
“I can’t help but wonder, how many of you may have been a victim in your childhood because, unfortunately, not all these cases, the vast majority don’t get reported,” said Detective Ted Voudouris. “So, scars are forever. And I hope the public will understand what Sheriff Cooper is trying to do here.”
Cooper and his team also raised concerns about the potential release of other sexually violent predators and questioned whether rehabilitation is possible.
“Mr. Funston said I can control it. I don’t think so. Once a pedophile, always a pedophile,” said detective Richard Aromando.
The campaign will now shift to raising money and gathering signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.
“If you’re against the proposition to protect our kids, that means you stand with pedophiles and predators. There’s no in between. Period. Bottom line,” Cooper said.
Cooper said the effort is not political and is focused on protecting children. If enough signatures are collected, the measure could appear on the 2028 ballot.
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