Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
District Attorney Says Voters Allowing Bad Behavior to Continue with Prop. 20 Loss
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 4 years ago on
November 4, 2020

Share

California’s Proposition 20 on Tuesday’s ballot aimed to roll back criminal justice reforms state voters approved in 2014 that reclassified some theft and drug possession offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.

Under Prop. 20, prosecutors would have flexibility to charge certain property crimes of more than $250, such as “serial shoplifting” and car theft, as felonies rather than misdemeanors.

But, the measure has gone down to defeat, with 62% of voters saying ‘No’ vs. 38% in the ‘Yes.’ column.

“I’m sorely disappointed that it didn’t pass, but I think we have to as elected officials, we have to respect what the voters are voting for,” Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said on Wednesday.

Proposition 20 would have also required law enforcement to collect and bank the DNA of people convicted of a long list of misdemeanors. Currently DNA is collected only from arrested and convicted felons, registered sex offenders and arsonists.

“So for all the people who don’t like the fact that when their cars get broken into or their cars get stolen or every time they go to the grocery store … they can just continue to have that behavior because that’s what they voted for.”Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp

Proposition 20 Specifics

According to CalMatters, Prop. 20 would have done the following:

  • Give prosecutors new flexibility to charge some property crimes of more than $250, such as “serial shoplifting” and car theft, as felonies rather than misdemeanors. 
  • Increase penalties for former inmates who violate the terms of their supervised release three times, making it more likely that they will be sent back to jail or prison.
  • Require law enforcement to collect DNA samples from people convicted of certain misdemeanors — including shoplifting, forgery and illegal drug possession — to be stored in a state database.
  • Double the number of felonies that disqualify prison inmates from being able to apply for early parole consideration.

“So for all the people who don’t like the fact that when their cars get broken into or their cars get stolen or every time they go to the grocery store … they can just continue to have that behavior because that’s what they voted for,” Smittcamp said.

“We have a store (Lululemon) in the Fig Garden Village that has a police officer parked in front so the people don’t come come in and steal the hundred dollar yoga pants,” says Smittcamp. “So all the people who voted no on Proposition 20 can just expect that that type of behavior is going to continue.”

Theft suspects caught on video surveillance at Lululemon store in Fig Garden Village in July, 2018. DA Lisa Smittcamp says police are now stationed outside to deter theft. (Fresno PD Facebook)

Blames Legislature

Smittcamp isn’t sure voters completely understand the ballot propositions they are continually asked to vote on. But, she also doesn’t blame voters.

She blames the representatives in the state Legislature for not addressing issues like those raised by Prop. 20. She says lawmakers are putting voters in the position of making complex policy decisions on their own.

“I think what’s happening is there’s a lot of people who are running for very important positions that lack life experience,” says Smittcamp. “And, you know, we are electing people who have never run a household budget. They have not had a mortgage. They have not had an investment.”

DA Frustration

“There’s a lot of good people that want criminal justice reform until they’re the victim,” said Smittcamp. “But then they vote this way. So, yeah, it’s frustrating.”

Smittcamp says she was in a Dollar General store recently buying Halloween decorations when she saw a woman with children stuffing merchandise into their shirts and bags before walking out the door without paying.

“Nobody did a thing. No one called the police. No one reacted,” Smittcamp says in frustration. She says it’s unfortunate, but, “That’s where we are.”

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

UP NEXT

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

UP NEXT

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

UP NEXT

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

UP NEXT

Lyft Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Case Alleging the Ride-Hailing Service Deceived Drivers

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Shot to Death at NW Apartment Complex Is Identified

UP NEXT

Pennsylvania Challenge of Elon Musk’s $1M-a-Day Voter Sweepstakes Moves to Federal Court

UP NEXT

SJV Water Founder Lois Henry Receives Prestigious Reporting Award

UP NEXT

Southern California County Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charge in COVID Funds Scheme

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

5 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

6 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

18 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

19 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

19 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

19 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

19 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

19 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

19 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

20 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

4 hours ago

4 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

4 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

4 hours ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

5 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

6 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

18 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

19 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

19 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend