AB 1231 undermines public safety, Senate Republicans expose in official analysis

Ahead of its vote on the Floor, today Senate Republicans released their analysis of Assembly Bill 1231 (AB 1231), exposing it as a dangerous public safety bill that undermines the will of the people.<_u53a_p>

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AB 1231 allows so-called "diversion" for a wide range of felonies, including crimes that Proposition 36 (Prop. 36) was specifically designed to crack down on. Last November Californians overwhelmingly approved Prop. 36, with nearly 70% voting in favor of it.<_u53a_p>

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"Prop. 36 still isn't fully funded, and they want to undermine that even further?" said Senator Kelly Seyarto, Vice Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee. "Californians are fed up with years of crime and letting repeat offenders off the hook. They demanded accountability, and this bill threatens to undo that."<_u53a_p>

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"If Prop. 36 moved us two steps forward on public safety, AB 1231 moves us right back by creating a pinky promise system for felons," said Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares. "How can this legislature say it's serious about crime if it continues to take away consequences?"<_u53a_p>

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"Instead of delivering real accountability, this proposal coddles criminals and insults the overwhelming number of Californians who demanded that we hold criminals accountable and protect our businesses and communities," said Senator Roger Niello, Vice Chair of the Senate Budget Committee. "We should be investing in the public safety reforms voters demanded, not undercutting them." <_u53a_p>

In an opposition letter, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said, "This bill significantly undermines the integrity of California's criminal justice system and poses real risks to public safety, victims' rights, and prosecutorial discretion."<_u53a_p>

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AB 1231 would make it so those who commit felonies such as theft, vandalism, trespassing, and drug charges face no real consequences by allowing their release under self-reporting "diversion" programs.<_u53a_p>

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An opposition letter from The California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA), the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), the California State Sheriffs' Association (CSSA), and the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) states:<_u53a_p>

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"AB 1231 creates a new felony diversion program that allows those accused of any of a number of felonies, including hate crimes, looting, and repeat theft and drug crimes, to qualify for diversion. This bill allows felony offenders to avoid meaningful consequences for the actions they choose.<_u53a_p>

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"Voters in the last election clearly signaled their position on the restoration of accountability and ineffective use of alternative consequences by overwhelmingly approving a statewide ballot measure (Proposition 36) that strengthened penalties on some of the exact crimes AB 1231 seeks to divert away from sentencing."<_u53a_p>

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Recent violence has highlighted the need to bring more accountability to the current diversion process.<_u53a_p>

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In May of this year, after being released from custody under the state's mental health diversion program, 25-year-old Jordan Murrayfatally stabbed Carlos Romero of Roseville in Fair Oaks.<_u53a_p>

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A similar case happened recently in August, in which 46-year-old Jason Hinkins carried out a drive-by-shooting in Sacramento. According to Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, Hinkins already had two strikes but was given a mental health diversion.<_u53a_p>

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Click HEREto read Senate Republicans' analysis of AB 1231.<_u53a_p>