Crime victims have always been the “odd fellow out” of the criminal justice system. We’ve never experienced equity with the criminals, are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, and until recent times have been treated as an afterthought by the officers of the court. However, in recent decades we have made strides to change this through a series of hard fought victories that have provided us with rights, protected innocent citizens, and held criminals accountable for their actions.
All of that will be torn asunder If California’s Proposition 57 passes on Election Day. Prop 57’s early release clause will provide violent felons with a pathway to early release because it defines obviously violent crimes as non-violent. Rapists, kidnappers, human traffickers, killers and other violent offenders will leave prison well before they have served their sentence. If that happens California will have re-established the same turnstile system of justice that resulted in the kidnap, rape and murder of my daughter Polly as well as unprecedented crime wave we experienced in the 1980-90’s.
Many victims testify against their abuser only because the prosecutor promised that the abuser will be incarcerated for a guaranteed period of time. How safe will they feel knowing that the promise has been broken and the criminal is walking the streets? How many future victims will be willing to testify against a criminal knowing that they can be released at any time? How safe can any of us feel in a world that recycles dangerous felons through a revolving door of escalating violence and diminished consequences?
Proposition 57 is a cynical and dangerous initiative that, if passed, will kneecap crime victims, endanger innocent citizens, and allow vicious felons to be released from prison without consideration for the nature of their crimes.
Ask yourself this question: Should criminals convicted of HUMAN TRAFFICKING involving sex acts with a child be allowed back on the streets before serving their full sentence? If you answered no please join Police, District Attorneys, Crime Victims and local community leaders to stop the insanity by opposing Proposition 57.
