The board’s vote was 3-0, with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas abstaining after urging that the matter be postponed, and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl on a planned trip out of the country.
Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn co-authored the motion to create a commission made up of board appointees, law enforcement officials and representatives from county departments handling mental health and diversion programs, among others. [View the motion here.]
The aim is “to improve rehabilitation, improve public safety, including for the brave men and women of law enforcement,” Barger said, adding that it is “not a referendum on criminal justice efforts” but a hard look at probation policies and how to protect people.
Barger mentioned individuals who had been re-arrested “15, 20 and 25 times” and even one who was picked up 69 times.
Speakers opposed to creating the public safety commission raised concerns about the disproportionate number of law enforcement representatives.
“How can we expect this commission to come out with an unbiased set of recommendations?” asked Jose Osuna of Homeboy Industries, which he characterized as the “world’s largest gang rehabilitation center.” He called the proposal “flawed and reactionary.”
Both opponents and supporters of the motion claimed to have the best interests of the public and crime victims at heart.
Calling the commission a “common-sense notion to improve the criminal justice system,” Los Angeles Police Protective League President Craig Lally told the board, “Criminal justice reform cannot just be focused on the offenders. Victims must have a say.”
However, Emi MacLean, an attorney with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, cited a national survey published in May by David Binder Research finding that “a majority of crime victims actually oppose this tough-on-crime agenda” and strongly favor rehabilitation over punishment.
Despite the supervisors’ disclaimers about a referendum on state policies, Sheriff Jim McDonnell pointed to potential “unintended consequences” of recent legislative changes “placing our first responders and members of the public at risk … It’s not about politics, but about public safety.”
Supervisor Hilda Solis said she had some hesitations about the commission, but ultimately added her vote to allow the motion to pass.
She first amended the proposal to add five additional board appointees who are advocates of reform, calling the first pass “deeply unbalanced.”
“This new commission will now be an open forum that is inclusive of different voices, a safe space where law enforcement and the community can equally discuss best practices, strategies and opportunities to address recidivism,” Solis said in a statement released after the vote.
At least seven representatives of the 27-member commission will be representatives from law enforcement agencies including the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles Police Department, Probation Department and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, among others. There will also be at least three representatives from public defender agencies.
The commission is expected to review the categories of violent crime that are eligible for parole and look at policies that allow probation to be revoked. It will also be tasked with tracking “very high risk” probationers, misdemeanor offenders with the highest recidivism rates and the rate of re- offense for everyone released under propositions 57 and 47 and AB 109.
A time frame for appointments to the commission was not specified.
–
Tim Scott says
“At least seven representatives of the 27-member commission will be representatives from law enforcement agencies…”
As long as they hold to at MOST seven that’s not unreasonable.