Sacramento Sheriff Says California Law Benefits Criminals, Endangers Communities

Frustrated with a lack of legal options available when detaining criminals caught stealing, Sacramento Sheriff Jim Cooper blamed state laws for contributing to retail theft crimes during a press conference Dec. 5—saying California voters need to fix the problem if given the chance on the ballot in November 2024. At issue is Proposition 47, an initiative also known as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act—passed by voters in 2014 changing some theft and drug crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. “The voters were duped into something that has nothing to do with safe neighborhoods and schools,” Mr. Cooper said during the press conference. One lawmaker agreed that the change to state law, including removing the ability to charge repeat offenders with stronger penalties and raising the felony threshold to $950 for stolen property, has jeopardized public safety....