Gov. Gavin Newsom asked lawmakers for support on a six point plan aimed at toughening sentences for people convicted of organized retail theft, flash mob robberies, and resellers of stolen items.
KNX News’ Pete Demetriou reported that the plan is getting early support from some law enforcement groups. He spoke to Mike Boudreaux, the president of the California State Sheriff's Association, about the governor’s policy proposal.
“I would say that much of this, if it goes into an amendment change under say Prop 47, it's gonna require voters to get involved,” Boudreaux said. “I know the district attorneys throughout the state are creating an initiative to try and change that legislation. But I will say that we're pleased with the fact that at least discussions are taking place.”
Prop 47 is a measure from 2014 that reclassified some low-level drug and property crime offenses as misdemeanors. Shoplifting and petty theft are considered misdemeanors unless more than $950 is stolen. In the years after the measure passed, property crimes steadily decreased.
Newsom’s proposed plan is broken down into six points. It starts with creating new penalties that will target people involved in organized retail theft and resellers of stolen merchandise. It will also strengthen existing laws to make sure that police can arrest suspects involved in retail theft and clarify the penal code to allow law enforcement to add up the value of multiple retail thefts.
The last points of the policy create new penalties for professional car burglaries, eliminate the sunset date on the organized retail crime statute, and to strengthen penalties for large-scale resellers of stolen items.
It’s not known when an initiative designed to repeal portions of Prop 47 may qualify for a statewide vote.
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