HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 020-180
RESOLUTION NO. 02 0- 1 8
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BAKERSFIELD IN SUPPORT OF THE "REDUCING CRIME AND
KEEPING CALIFORNIA SAFE ACT OF 2018" ADDRESSING
VIOLENT CRIME, SERIAL THEFT, DNA COLLECTIONS, AND
PAROLE VIOLATIONS.
WHEREAS, protecting citizens in California, including our most vulnerable
children, from violent crime is of the utmost importance; to that end, murderers,
rapists, child molesters, and other violent criminals should not be released early
from prison; and
WHEREAS, since 2014, California has had a larger increase in violent crime
than the rest of the United States; and
WHEREAS, recent changes to parole laws have allowed the early release
of dangerous criminals convicted of sex trafficking of children, rape of an
unconscious person, felony assault with a deadly weapon, battery on a police
officer or firefighter, and felony domestic violence to be considered by
categorizing these crimes as "non-violent'; and
WHEREAS, these so-called "non-violent' offenders are then eligible for
early release from prison after serving only a fraction of the sentence ordered by
a judge; and
WHEREAS, violent offenders are also being allowed to remain free in our
communities even when they commit new crimes and violate the terms of their
post release community supervision; and
WHEREAS, recent changes to California law allow serial thieves to face
few consequences, regardless of their criminal record or how many times they
steal; as a result, between 2014 and 2016, California had the 2nd highest
increase in theft and property crimes in the United States, while most states have
seen a steady decline; and
WHEREAS, according to the California Department of Justice, the value of
property stolen in 2015 was $2.5 billion with an increase of 13 percent since 2014,
the largest single -year increase in at least ten years; and
WHEREAS, collecting DNA from criminals is essential to solving violent
crimes; and
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WHEREAS, recent changes to California law unintentionally eliminated
DNA collection for theft and drug crimes; and
WHEREAS, the "Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018,"
an initiative currently being circulated for signatures, will (1) reclassify currently
"non-violent" crimes like rape of an unconscious person, sex trafficking of a
child, and fourteen other serious crimes as "violent' to prevent the early release
of inmates convicted of these crimes; (2) reform the parole system to stop the
early release of violent felons, expand parolee oversight, and strengthen
penalties for parole violations; (3) reform theft laws to restore accountability for
serial thieves and organized theft gangs; and (4) expand DNA collection to
include those convicted of drug, theft, domestic violence, and other serious
crimes to help solve rape, murder and other violent crimes and exonerate those
wrongly accused.
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of
Bakersfield as follows:
1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated
herein by reference.
2. The City Council formally supports the "Reducing Crime and
Keeping California Safe Act of 2018" and hereby joins the Keep California Safe
Coalition, a project of the California Public Safety Partnership Issues Committee,
sponsor of the initiative, in support of the initiative.
3. Copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to the California Public
Safety Partnership Issues Committee.
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HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted
by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on
MAR 01 2010 by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA Nu
, WEIR, SWTH,`RrE=,SurvN
APARuers
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER N lei
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERn _—
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CHRISTOPHER IDERRY
ACTING CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of
the Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED: MAR 012010
By lb
KAREN GO , Mayor
City of Bakersfield
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Aft
or ey
By
ANDREW HEGLAJAD
Deputy City Attorney
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