Providing safe neighborhoods for Californians to live, work and attend school in is one of the fundamental responsibilities of government. The safety of citizens is not something that can be put aside to balance the budget, or jeopardized by letting convicts out of prison early.
Supporting Law Enforcement: We must be sure the laws of the state are applied fairly and that law enforcement has the tools it needs to keep our streets safe. I am pleased to have been recognized by the CA State Sheriff's Association for my commitment to law enforcement.
Law enforcement officials put their life on the line every day to keep our streets safe. I have co-authored legislation, Senate Bill 839, which will help law enforcement catch and arrest criminals that kill police officers or sheriffs. This "Blue Alert" will operate similarly to the Amber Alert system for missing children.
I have also co-authored Senate Bill 408 that would make it illegal for felons to purchase, own or possess body armor such as bullet proof vests.
Crime victims deserve closure: While we spend a great deal of money on incarceration of prisoners, we cannot forget the rights of victims. Victims of crimes should have their voices heard and be allowed open access to all aspects of the criminal process.
Victimization can come in many forms. Being the target of a scam, identity theft or any other type of fraud can be as damaging as finding yourself or a loved one the victim of a violent crime. These offenses and the people that promulgate them should be dealt with swiftly and decisively.
This year I have introduced three measures to rid California's capitol punishment system of cumbersome delays and legal bottlenecks. Crime victims and their families deserve better than to endure a never-ending appeals process and decades of waiting for final resolution.
Public safety is government's top priority: There is no more important duty of an elected official than to ensure that the state's policies contribute to the safety of our streets and neighborhoods not detract.
In an effort to disrupt gang violence stemming from prisons I am carrying legislation, Senate Bill 434, that would crack down on the illegal use of cell phones in prisons. Incarcerated gang members use their cell phones to coordinate criminal activities with their cronies on the outside.
Sexual predators take advantage of children and other vulnerable people in many forms. It is important that our laws keep current with the technological advances that allow predators to operate more easily. Senate Bill 203, my legislation to add protections for children from child pornographers using the internet to share pornographic materials, passed the Senate earlier this year and is now in the Assembly. I have also coauthored Senate Bill 1204, legislation that will keep convicted sexual predators from social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace.
Prison Reforms: Our correctional facilities should be operated efficiently and humanly to ensure the safety and health of not only the prisoners but the corrections officers and surrounding communities as well.
As a vehement opponent of legislative efforts to cut prison costs by releasing prisoners early, I have advocated for administrative reforms that could rein in prison spending rather than policies that jeopardize public safety. California's budget crisis requires out of the box thinking to balance the rising costs of incarceration and the absolute necessity of keeping the public safe.
I do not believe prisoners are entitled to a "Cadillac" health care system with benefits that exceed those received by average Californians. When formulating prison policy, we should always keep in mind, prisoners are in prison for a reason - because they have broken the law and are deemed a threat to the rest of society.
I have introduced Senate Bill 1364, a measure that will discourage prison recidivism by charging a fee to prisoners while incarcerated for some discretionary items. Once released the debt would be forgiven if the prisoner was not re-incarcerated within two years of being released. California's 70% prison recidivism rate is an unacceptable and expensive problem that must be addressed.
People are ultimately responsible for their own actions. In accordance with this, I am a supporter of both the death penalty and the state's three strikes laws. I believe these laws promote justice, individual responsibility and, most importantly, protect innocent people from dangerous criminals. Habitual offenders are a danger to law abiding citizens and that is why I am co-authoring SB 1601, legislation to keep habitual drunk drivers off our streets.
As a caveat of personal responsibility, I also believe responsible, law abiding citizens should have the right to own and possess firearms, apply for concealed carry permits and enjoy the freedoms of our democracy.
This web portal is designed as a clearinghouse of information on these issues. It is my hope that the links provided will enable you to find the information you need to keep informed on this important topic..
Early Release Countdown
On August 4th a federal three-judge panel gave the State of California 45 days to come up with a plan to release over 40,000 prisoners back onto California's streets and into our neighborhoods to ease so-called overcrowding. I strongly oppose the early release of criminals as it will jeopardize the safety of our communities. This countdown will update you daily on events, facts and statistics having to do with the prison issue. You can also link to past updates.
Senator Harman on the Issues
Swift justice is DOA in California, Capitol Weekly, 12.10.09
Tough on Crime Measures not to Blame, FlashReport, 9.3.09
Cut Spending on Inmate Health Care, Daily Pilot, 8.31.09
Rethink Early Release, Riverside Press Enterprise, 8.15.09
Early Release is a Misguided Policy
It's Public Safety We Care About
Legal Stalling is Packing Death Row, SF Chronicle, 6.15.09
We must protect children, Huntington Beach Independent, 5.6.09
Government Resources
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Statistical branch
Corrections Standards Authority - tracks the standards and capacity of local jails.
Division of Juvenile Justice
Board of Parole Hearings
California Emergency Management Agency
SafeState
California Attorney General's
Crime and Violence Prevention Center
1300 I Street, 11th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-324-7863
California Sex Offenders Management Board
Megan's Law
Law Enforcement
Local Police Departments
Elder Abuse
Report Abuse: CA Department of Social Services.
Elder Abuse
Adult Protective Services
Orange County - 1-800-451-5155
Long-term Care Ombudsman
Orange County - 714-479-0107
California Department of Aging
1-800-510-2020
- local information and resources
1-800-231-4024
- 24-hour crisis line
California State Senate Subcommittee on Aging and Long-term Care
Information on legislation and access to senior fact sheets on a number of important topics.
Issues
Death Penalty
Harman Introduces Key Death Penalty Measures
CA Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation: History of Capitol Punishment in California
Three Strikes Law
Three Strikes Foundation
Legislative Analysts Office, A Primer: Three Strikes, the Impact After More than a Decade
Firearms
Frequently asked questions about firearm ownership in California, CA Attorney General's, Firearms Division
Victims' Rights
California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board
Federal Office for Victims of Crime
Local County Victim Witness Assistance Centers
Orange County District Attorney, Office of Victims Services
Victims needing assistance may also call 1-877-433-9068.
Available brochures and resources:
Appeals & Victims' Rights.
Also available in Spanish: Apelaciones y derechos de las víctimas
Execution & Clemency In California: A Guide For Victims
Helping Crime Victims Get the Services They Need
Also available in Spanish: : Ayudamos a las víctimas de delitos a obtener los servicios que necesiten
A Victim's Guide to the Capital Case Process
McGeorge School of Law, Victims of Crime Resource Center 1-800-Victims
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