Sacramento County Jim Cooper joined Inside California Politics this week to discuss his efforts to change the state\u2019s elderly parole program.<\/p>\n
Under state law, inmates 50 and older who have served 20 years of their sentence are eligible for parole, except for those sentenced to death or life without parole.<\/p>\n
This program came into the spotlight recently in the Sacramento area after two convicted child rapists were granted parole. David Allen Funston, who had been sentenced to multiple life sentences for sex crimes against children as young as three, was going to be released before the DA filed new charges in an effort to keep him behind bars.<\/p>\n
Cooper is looking to make those convicted of sex crimes against children ineligible for the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe in second chances, but not for child molesters,\u201d Cooper told host Nikki Laurenzo.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Cooper held a press conference where he annoucned a ballot initiative aimed at amending the laws regarding parole that came into effect when voters passed Prop. 57 in 2016.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe promise was, \u2018Hey, Prop. 57, we\u2019re going to pass it and get out low-level offenders to give them a second chance. And for sure it will not include violent or sex offenders\u2019,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cWe were told that. They were adamant about that. It passes by the voters because the voters are\u00a0duped. The legislature puts on a ballot. Lo and behold, the courts rule it includes everyone. You can\u2019t exclude anyone. So now letting out sex offenders and murderers, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sheriff said that he understands Gov. Gavin Newsom doesn\u2019t have the power to directly intervene in the parole process for these cases, but that he hoped to work with him on changing the law.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis hands are tied,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cI\u2019d love to partner with him and help get law change.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor has already said he is open to reform.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think, in the context of those issues being highlighted, there\u2019s some reforms that we should advance \u2014 as it relates to transparency through an\u00a0en banc\u00a0process and making sure that we know who voted in what direction,\u201d Newsom said at a press conference earlier this month<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cooper also shared that his motivation to push for the ballot initiative was partly personal.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got four kids and a grandkid,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cMy grandson\u2019s three years old. Funston\u2019s victim was three years old, his youngest victim. That really hit home for me, that I can\u2019t sit by and not do anything. I gotta do something. So I said, I\u2019m gonna do a ballot initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n