Law Enforcement’s Role in Crime Prevention

It’s surprising how simply enforcing laws could deter crime, right? Well, it seems everyone gets this—except, perhaps, the Democrats.

They’re upset about President Trump’s choice to federalize law enforcement in Washington, D.C., and sending in the National Guard to bring back order. It’s, uh, unfortunate. With issues ranging from shoplifting in California to illegal immigration and crime across the country, sometimes the solution is quite obvious: enforcement is effective.

The reality is, Democrats didn’t reject enforcement due to a lack of understanding; they opposed it because they recognized its potential effectiveness.

Back in 2014, Democrats persuaded Californians that their difficulties stemmed from a flawed justice system, crying out against “unconstitutional prison overcrowding.”

They pitched Proposition 47 as a reform. This measure downgraded various “low-level offenses,” such as drug possession and theft under $950, reducing them from potential felonies to misdemeanors.

Californians bought the idea, giving Proposition 47 nearly 60% support. Over the next decade, they paid dearly for this decision.

Those so-called “low-level crimes” transformed into significant issues. Shoplifting surged remarkably, and fewer drug prosecutions translated to less recovery treatment, leaving addicts on the streets and disproportionately impacting the homeless population.

By 2024, enough was enough. Proposition 36 emerged to counteract Proposition 47, facing resistance from some Democrats; it still garnered 71% support and passed significantly across all counties.

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom was initially reluctant to allocate funds for enforcement related to Proposition 36, providing only partial and hesitated support.

Early Outcomes: Effective Initiatives

Interestingly, even without full funding, Proposition 36 delivered impressive results.

In a recent conversation, Yolo County’s District Attorney Jeff Reisig noted:

We’re witnessing a change. Law enforcement throughout California is thrilled to have the tools to tackle repeat offenders. Officers have a renewed sense of purpose and are responding to calls they might have otherwise ignored due to a lack of accountability.

Retailers, from big box outlets to smaller stores, have noticed improved conditions. Theft that was once rampant has noticeably declined since Proposition 36 took effect. Before this measure, stealing was almost trivial, as repeated offenses under $950 merely resulted in a slap on the wrist.

Since the implementation of Proposition 36, there have been over 3,000 felony arrests, with a staggering 80% being repeat offenders, and about a quarter tied to violent crimes.

A Similar Narrative at the Border

Surprisingly, strategies effective in combating shoplifting in California have also proved beneficial in dealing with illegal immigration.

Recent reports from Customs and Border Security indicated that national encounters in July hit the lowest recorded number, falling to 24,630—down 90% compared to monthly averages during the Biden administration. Meanwhile, Border Patrol’s concerns hit record lows.

In Trump’s initial 100 days, Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended over 66,000 individuals illegally entering the U.S., including numerous gang members and offenders of serious crimes.

National crime statistics from early 2025 gleaned similar insights, revealing decreases in 11 out of 13 major crime categories, except for domestic violence and stable drug-related offenses.

Interestingly, murders decreased by 17%, aggravated assaults by 10%, and other violent crimes showed significant reductions. This context presents a curious contradiction to leftist critiques that suggest crime levels were not a result of Biden’s policies.

Democratic Skepticism Against Common-Place Realities

Democrats often point fingers at the vague “system” responsible for crime. For Proposition 47, they emphasized matters like “excessive incarceration.” In the case of the border crisis, the proverbial “broken immigration system” bore the blame.

Biden himself argued for new emergency powers to address the overwhelmed border situation—a step he could have taken right from his first day in office.

At the broader national level, there are claims of declining crime rates, yet the FBI later revised data to reflect actual increases, contradicting earlier assertions.

Enforcement clearly works, and this is no secret—even Democrats, perhaps especially the more liberal factions among them, understand it. This awareness is likely what prompted efforts to reduce enforcement measures through Proposition 47, border policies, and calls to “defund the police.” The tide only began to shift when public sentiment clearly rejected these positions.

The Democrats didn’t resist enforcement due to ignorance; they did so knowing, full well, it would succeed.