New state-wide public safety initiative gaining momentum

‘Keep California Safe’ is a new, state-wide public safety initiative that aims to crack down on repeat offenders and regulate violent criminal offenders within the justice system.

Organizers told KESQ / CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner that the initiative is focused on protecting local communities and preventing the public from becoming victims of crime. The initiative is still in the signature-collecting stage.

Organizers say the initiative will do three things:

Redefine what is classified as a violent crime in the hopes of keeping people behind bars longer Change certain theft laws Help grow a DNA database to help solve unsolved crimes

“If you look at our recidivism rates, that’s the rate that people will re-offend, it’s 70%. It’s outrageous,” said Sen. Jeff Stone.

Stone is behind the initiative as it plans to correct what he called “bad legislation.”

“As a result of AB 109, Props 47 and 57 have made our communities a much more dangerous place to live,” Stone continued.

The passage of the props in 2014 and 2016, respectively, downgraded some crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The move reclassified offenses like abducting a child for prostitution, a drive-by shooting, felony domestic violence and even felony hate crimes as non-violent crimes.

“Think about if your daughter is at a frat party and is unconscious and gets raped. That’s not considered a violent crime,” said Mika Moulton, founder of safety organization Christopher’s Clubhouse. “People need to understand that these things have been reclassified so these people are now coming out of prison earlier.”

Moulton chalks the predicament up to uneducated voters who didn’t read the ballot thoroughly.

“Make sure you understand the law, and if you don’t, research it because this is our responsibility as voters- to make sure we’re appropriately voting on the right thing,” Moulton said.

We reached out to the Southern California American Civil Liberties Union, which backed the props, but have not heard back.

Supporters have until mid-April to get 500,000 signatures. They are currently a quarter of the way there. If they reach that goal, the initiative will be placed on the November ballot.