Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper didn’t mince words when asked about California’s approach to public safety. His verdict?“Not enough. Not enough.”
Speaking on California Politics 360, Cooper laid out a frustration that’s been building for years among law enforcement across the state: lawmakers and Governor Gavin Newsom have failed to take meaningful action on crime—even when Californians themselves demand it. The evidence, he argues, is right in front of them. Proposition 36, which passed in 2024 with a stunning 70% voter approval across all 58 counties, sends a clear message about what Californians want: stronger accountability for repeat thieves and drug dealers. Yet, Cooper points out,“not one statewide official supported it.”That disconnect between voter intent and elected leadership is, frankly, hard to defend.
The problem isn’t that Prop 36 isn’t working. It is. Retailers have noticed fewer thefts. Law enforcement reports measurable change in behavior. People know there are consequences now. But here’s the catch: the law arrived without the funding to actually implement it properly. Lawmakers and the governor claim they’ve appropriated $375 million toward implementation, but budget documents reveal only $50 million is directly dedicated to the new law itself—money that goes mostly to courts and pretrial services, not to the treatment programs that could transform offenders’lives. Some people are being arrested and released without any pathway to help, which defeats the purpose entirely.
Cooper’s concerns extend beyond Prop 36. He’s fired up about mental health diversion programs that he says are being weaponized to undermine accountability. A proposed bill would add theft to the list of crimes eligible for diversion, allowing people to sidestep consequences through treatment instead. For a sheriff watching retailers get hit and communities suffer, that feels like watering down the law voters just passed. Even more troubling: California still hasn’t classified domestic violence as a violent felony, despite cases involving three-day beatings and partners left unconscious or permanently disfigured. Cooper’s point is blunt: some legislators simply“don’t want anybody held accountable.”
What makes Cooper’s criticism land harder is his history. He’s not some tough-on-crime ideologue—he’s a former assemblyman who understands how Sacramento works. He’s also someone who recognizes that accountability and treatment aren’t mutually exclusive. People who want help should get it. But those who don’t, or those committing shocking crimes, shouldn’t slip through the cracks because politicians fear being labeled harsh. The state’s homicide rate has hit a 60-year low, which is genuinely good news. But that headline masks a deeper problem: piecemeal policies, political timidity, and a gap between what voters demand and what their elected officials are willing to deliver. With less than a month left in the legislative session, Cooper’s message to lawmakers is simple: get back to the victims, and start following the will of the people who put you in office.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
