SB82, which would change the crime of “unarmed robbery” from a felony to a misdemeanor, was resisted by the California State Police Chief, district attorneys, the Crime Survivors Association, and other organizations. Pictured here is a San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) police car.
SB82, sponsored by California Democratic State Senator Nancy Skinner, which would change the crime of “unarmed robbery” from a felony to a misdemeanor, will go before the State Senate Appropriations Committee for review on April 5. The proposal, which is seen as an “enhanced and dangerous version of Act 47 2.0,” is being resisted by organizations including California police chiefs, district attorneys, and crime survivors associations.
In 2014, California passed Act 47, which changed the felony offenses of shoplifting, forgery, fraud, petty theft and possession of small amounts of drugs to a misdemeanor.
Years later, Skinner introduced SB82, which would also change “unarmed robbery” from a felony to a misdemeanor. Once passed into law, all future felony robberies in California would be reduced to misdemeanors only if the offender did not use a weapon to commit the robbery or cause serious bodily injury to the victim.
Former President of the California Police Chiefs Association: Robbery without a weapon is also more violent
Ron Lawrence, former president of the California Police Chiefs Association and chief of police in the capital city of Citrus Heights, said at an online seminar on March 30, “I’m saddened to see SB82 will contribute to more robberies and put the entire state of California at risk.”
In the city of Citrus Heights, for example, Lawrence said there have been 234 robbery-related victims in their city in the past three years. Of those, 145 suspects did not use weapons in their crimes, but most turned into violent crimes in which victims were injured after being violently attacked. “Even if no physical harm is caused, it can cause emotional and psychological pain to the victim. There is no common sense reason why these offenders who have committed physically violent crimes should be reduced from felonies to simple misdemeanors.”
He said, “SB82 actually encourages assailants to be able to use intimidating, physically confrontational behavior (to commit robberies) and not be punished simply because the robbery was not committed with a weapon. SB82 exonerates robbery suspects who do not use weapons. It makes California’s crime victims more vulnerable to violence, and as a police chief, I join hundreds of police chiefs across the state in opposing this pathological SB82 proposal.”
Last month, an Asian man in San Francisco was beaten and robbed of his money by three black men in a laundromat near Chinatown. According to police sources, the three suspects were also involved in the assault and robbery of other elderly people. Once SB82 is passed, the three suspects will likely only be sentenced for “misdemeanor petty larceny.
California District Attorneys Association President: Victims won’t see robbery as trivial
Vern Pierson, president of the California District Attorneys Association, said that California would be headed into the wrong direction with SB82. “In fact, I believe the increase in violent crime is at least partly the responsibility of the California legislature, and some of your [lawmakers’] policies going back a few years to San Francisco, and now in Los Angeles, have been increasingly permissive of violent crime.”
He argued, “A robbery is a robbery, and most Californians understand that. But it’s bad that the authors of SB 82 don’t seem to get it. As victims of violent crime, they live their lives in fear, and they don’t share the view of the authors of this proposal that robbery is a trivial matter. So I join in urging that this very reckless and dangerous proposal be stopped.”
Equal Justice Association President Shawn Lee calls for: boycott of SB82 to legislators
Frank Lee, president of Equal Justice, believes that if SB82 is passed, California will become a “haven” for criminals. Robbers will not be punished severely, and even if they steal, they will be “protected” by the law and will soon be released.
This proposal should not be partisan, it’s about the safety of every Californian’s Life and property,” he said. If SB82 is passed, we may not be able to continue to live in California as normal. We urge everyone to boycott SB82 to legislators and oppose making all robberies (theft by force or intimidation) a ‘petty theft’ misdemeanor.”
Earlier, SB82 author Skinner said similar laws have been passed in New York, Oregon, Illinois and Texas. But Ryan Couzens, deputy district attorney for Yolo County, noted that Skinner’s claim is inaccurate. “None of these states that Senator Skinner mentions allow their citizens to be injured in a theft case and still only have the case classified as a misdemeanor.”
On March 16, SB 82 has passed the California Senate Safety Committee. on April 5, it will be sent to the State Senate Appropriations Committee for review.
Shawn Lee will join a number of experts from various fields to speak out against SB82 in the State Senate Appropriations Committee on April 5, and he is calling on every Californian to pressure legislators to oppose the proposal by phone, letter, and email, and ultimately intercept and block its passage.
More Organizations Join the Boycott
Currently in California, organizations including the California District Attorneys’ Association, the California Grocers Association, the Citrus Heights Police Chief, the Equal Justice Organization for Justice and Equality, California Narcotic Officers’ Association, Crime Survivors, Inc., Crime Victims United, the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Northern Arizona University, and other organizations, law enforcement, and prosecutors have joined the civil coalition against SB82.
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