CA sheriff claims Newsom favors offenders over victims.

California Governor Faces Criticism from Local Sheriff

Governor Gavin Newsom is encountering unexpected criticism from within his own party, particularly from Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper.

As the California Legislature prepares to finalize a bill, Cooper has voiced concerns that the city prioritizes criminals over victims. He argues that there hasn’t been full implementation of crime reforms that voters approved, alongside policies that, in his view, weaken accountability.

In a recent interview, Cooper discussed California’s crime policies. He pointed out that state leaders are not adequately addressing crime, despite public demand for stricter punishments for repeat offenders.

California recently reported its lowest homicide rate in nearly six decades, but Cooper contends that the statistics are misleading. He believes victims are continuing to suffer due to a focus on diversion and early release instead of true accountability.

Cooper particularly criticized Proposition 36, passed in 2024 with nearly 70% support statewide. While it increased penalties for repeat retail theft and certain drug offenses, it also allowed some offenders to have their felonies dismissed after completing required treatment. He feels that Sacramento has failed to provide the necessary funding for these measures to take effect successfully.

Despite the state’s budget including $375 million to facilitate Proposition 36’s implementation, documents suggest only $50 million is specifically allocated for related court and pretrial services.

He also expressed alarm over California’s expanding mental health diversion system. Cooper warns that proposals to broaden eligibility for property crime diversion would undermine the very purpose of the initiative approved by voters.

Continuing his critiques, Cooper highlighted California’s domestic violence laws, asserting that many serious domestic violence felonies are not classified as violent crimes, which undermines the severity of the issue. “Domestic violence can touch anyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” he said.

When questioned about the unwillingness of lawmakers to take decisive action on domestic violence classification, his response was pointed: “They have no debate, just vote no.” This sentiment aligns with Cooper’s ongoing campaign against California’s criminal justice policies.

Following the tragic shooting of an 18-year-old Sacramento State student, Cooper emphasized that California law too often focuses on the age of offenders, sidestepping the seriousness of the crimes committed.

He believes policies such as the Youth Offender Parole Act have created a system where offenders can be released early based on age rather than the severity of their actions. “This isn’t just a system failure; it’s functioning exactly as designed,” he remarked.

Cooper’s frustrations extend to California’s compassionate release program, citing a recent case where a convicted attempted cop killer was released early and later arrested again. He accused legislators of disregarding warnings from law enforcement about the risks involved in expanding release criteria.