Violent crime is on the rise in California. Or at least, that’s what Fox News’ William La Jeunesse has to say in this special report examining the issue in the state. Last year, California’s governor Jerry Brown advocated for Proposition 57, a measure that — like laws in at least a dozen other states — ended up putting criminals back on the streets earlier than expected.
This was supposed to have the effect of reducing the state’s prison population while making sure that only “nonviolent” offenders were released.
The problem is that the Proposition’s definition of “nonviolent” only used the scope of the most recent offense the criminal was charged with. If the person had prior convictions for violent crime, those were ignored. If the released criminals violate their parole or probation terms, they’re not sent back to a state prison, but are merely sent to county jails.
Also, some felonies were re-categorized, so offenders are still eligible for early release. These include human trafficking and some types of rape, such as statutory rape, rape using a controlled substance, the rape of an intoxicated person and the rape of an unconscious person. They also include arson, hostage-taking and attempting to set off a bomb at a school. Even criminals who have committed murder in the past are eligible for early release.
Needless to say, for habitual offenders, these “get out of jail free” cards only allowed them to return to their lives of crime earlier than anticipated.
As some experts have pointed out, early release without accompanying rehabilitation programs can be a recipe for disaster. Other states have made their early release programs work effectively. Will California revisit this issue? Watch as La Jeunesse breaks it down for viewers.
