HomeMy WebLinkAbout7282 RESOLUTION NO. 7282
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING THE REDUCING CRIME AND KEEPING
CALIFORNIA SAFE ACT OF 2020
WHEREAS, protecting every person in our state, including our most vulnerable
children, from violent crime is of the utmost importance. 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. Since 2013, violent crime in Los Angeles has increased
69.5%; and
WHEREAS, The FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report for 2018,
which tracks crimes committed during the first six months of the past year in U. S. cities
with populations over 100,000, indicates that violent crime increased in 33 of California's
largest cities last year; and
WHEREAS, recent changes to parole laws allowed the early release of dangerous
criminals by the law's failure to define certain crimes as "violent." These changes allowed
individuals 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 "non-violent offenders"; and
WHEREAS, as a result, these so-called "non-violent" offenders are 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, like the gang member charged with the murder of Whittier
Police Officer Keith Boyer; and
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WHEREAS, the proposed Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act (the
"Act") reforms the law so felons who violate the terms of their release can be brought back
to court and held accountable for such violations; and
WHEREAS, nothing in this Act is intended to create additional "strike" offenses
which would increase the state prison population, nor is it intended to affect the ability of
the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to award educational and
merit credits; and
WHEREAS, recent changes to California law allow individuals who steal
repeatedly to face few consequences, regardless of their criminal record or how many
times they steal; and
WHEREAS, 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. According to the California Department of Justice, the value of property
stolen in 2015 was $2.5 billion with an increase of 13% since 2014, the largest single-
year increase in at least 10 years; and
WHEREAS, grocery store operators around the state have seen unprecedented
increases in the amount of losses associated with shoplifting in their stores, with some
reporting up to 150% increases in these losses from 2012 to present, with the largest
jumps occurring since 2014; and
WHEREAS, shoplifting incidents have started to escalate in such a manner that
have endangered innocent customers and employees; and
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WHEREAS, individuals who repeatedly steal often do so to support their drug
habit. Recent changes to California law have reduced judges' ability to order individuals
convicted of repeated theft crimes into effective drug treatment programs; and
WHEREAS, California needs stronger laws for those who are repeatedly
convicted of theft related crimes, which will encourage those who repeatedly steal to
support their drug problem to enter into existing drug treatment programs. The Act
enacts such reforms; and
WHEREAS, collecting DNA from criminals is essential to solving violent crimes.
Over 450 violent crimes including murder, rape, and robbery have gone unsolved
because DNA is being collected from fewer criminals; and
WHEREAS, DNA collected in 2015 from a convicted child molester solved the
rape-murders of two six-year-old boys that occurred three decades ago in Los Angeles
County. DNA collected in 2016 from an individual caught driving a stolen car solved the
2012 San Francisco Bay Area rape/murder of an 83-year-old woman; and
WHEREAS, recent changes to California law unintentionally eliminated DNA
collection for theft and drug crimes. The Act would restore DNA collection from persons
convicted for such offenses; and
WHEREAS, permitting collection of more DNA samples will help identify
suspects, clear the innocent and free the wrongly convicted; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Act does not affect existing legal safeguards that
protect the privacy of individuals by allowing for the removal of their DNA profile if they
are not charged with a crime, are acquitted or are found innocent.
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. For the forgoing reasons, the City of Arcadia supports the
Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2020.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
Passed, approved and adopted this 5th day of November , 2019.
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Ma •rot eCity of Arcadia
ATTEST:
ity Clerk r
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephen P. Deitsch
City Attorney
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS:
CITY OF ARCADIA )
I, GENE GLASCO, City Clerk of the City of Arcadia, hereby certifies that the
foregoing Resolution No. 7282 was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of
Arcadia, signed by the Mayor and attested to by the City Clerk at a regular meeting of said
Council held on the 5th day of November, 2019 and that said Resolution was adopted by
the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Amundson, Beck, Tay, Chandler, and Verlato
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
, Clerk of t City of Arcadia
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