Meet the Authors...

I think an interesting way of understanding this bill is to take a close look at who authored this proposition, and what they have done.

To begin, this proposition has four authors: Senator George Runner, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, author Mike Reynolds and San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt.

Both Senator and Assemblywoman Runner authored Jessica’s Law, which overwhelmingly passed in 2006. The law’s purpose was to reduce sex offender’s likelihood of attacking again. Since its passage in 2006, however, only 63% of sex offenders were hospitalized compared to the 80% who were given medical attention before the law was enacted. In addition, Jessica’s Law prohibits ex-sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools and parks. While this ideally distances children from predators, it also created homelessness which might perpetuate the situation. The bill overall cost $31 million the last fiscal year, ultimately, without significant improvements.

Reynolds might be known for the now five-year old “Three strikes and you’re out” law. This California law convicts felons committing their third-strike to life in prison. While ideally this law keep dangerous convicts out of the streets, in actuality, it also jails felons who did not even commit dangerous crimes, and thus, do not represent a serious a danger.

It appears that the authors clearly support and sponsor bills that aim to secure Californians, however, these laws have been very costly and not efficient. Jessica’s Law has not helped ex-sex offenders reintegrate into society more than their policy had before. It has merely resulted in a major expense. The Three strikes law unfairly jails nonviolent criminals to life, resulting in long-term cost expenditures. While I do not wish to claim that these two laws and the Good Neighborhood Act proposition are the same, some significant similarities seem to emerge.

Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Aug 11, 2008. pg. B.1
Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Aug 24, 1999. pg. 6




California State Senator Runner addresses budget crisis and prisons.
Quote: "I don’t know who these nonviolent felons are"