Crime

Blog

Read the latest on the LA ICE riots

ICE in California – Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

On May 20, 50 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials including all regional field office directors and an assortment of Homeland Security special agents and investigators were summoned to Washington DC by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.  Miller is the point man for the Trump administration’s plan ...
Blog

Crime in California 2024

Crime in California 2024 by Steve Smith  |  July 15, 2025 On July 1, as it has for over 50 years, the California Department of Justice released three statistical reports covering crime in general, homicides, and juvenile crime.  On the positive side, there are some reductions particularly in violent crime ...
Blog

Read about California's growing crime problem

Violent Crime in California– The Newsom Years, 2019-2023

Newsom, in turn, called out the murder rates in each of the lawmakers’ home states, proclaiming that Alabama had “…3X the murder rate of California”, Oklahoma had a murder rate “…40 % higher than California’s” and Arkansas was “literally DOUBLE California’s”. In order for Newsom’s posts on X to be ...
Blog

Newsom and the National Guard

Newsom’s office stated that the president’s order and the presence of the guard: “not only caused widespread panic and chaos, but have unnecessarily created an additional diversion of resources as the state tries to calm a community terrorized by this reckless federal action.” In fact, the “panic and chaos” was ...
Blog

Getting it all wrong about the other city by the bay

To be charitable, miners brave enough to go digging can discover occasional nuggets of value in Madrigal’s ponderous, and entirely predictable, jeremiad. For example: Oakland had its own version of the urban-renewal thuggery that would eventually lead to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. City of New London. In ...
Blog

Read the latest about the LA ICE riots

The Challenge of Democratic Policing

News of the fairly small federal enforcement action spread quickly amongst opponents of immigration enforcement, and based on the flags and signs, a host of other political causes as well, resulting in days of riots, assaults on police officers, arson, and vandalism. The situation is made more confusing in California ...
Blog

Months after election, is crime still a potent urban issue?

Months after election, is crime still a potent urban issue? Passed by 68% of voters last November 5, Proposition 36 increased penalties for certain drug offenses and for thefts under $950. On the same day, Nathan Hochman defeated Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, 65% to 35%. Gascón was a ...
Blog

Read the latest on Gov. Newsom's state budget plan

Governor Newsom’s Budget Message to Crime Victims – Like it or lump it.

For those who may have forgotten, Prop 36’s passage in November 2024 was historic. Despite opposition from Gov. Newsom, the majority of the state legislature, and a host of criminal rights groups, it passed in every county and won passage with over 68 percent of the vote statewide. One would ...
Commentary

Dr Currie Myers Interview of Steve Smith

An eye-opening discussion on the real state of public safety in the Golden State
Blog

Read about the latest bill to weaken CA's public safety laws

AB 622 – Early Release for Violent Offenders

Historically, an inmate serving a 25 to life sentence for murder is eligible for parole review 13 months prior to their 25th year in custody, adjusted for time in custody prior to sentencing. This is known as the Minimum Parole Eligibility Date (MEPD). After the passage of Prop 57, the ...
Blog

Read the latest on the LA ICE riots

ICE in California – Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

On May 20, 50 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials including all regional field office directors and an assortment of Homeland Security special agents and investigators were summoned to Washington DC by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.  Miller is the point man for the Trump administration’s plan ...
Blog

Crime in California 2024

Crime in California 2024 by Steve Smith  |  July 15, 2025 On July 1, as it has for over 50 years, the California Department of Justice released three statistical reports covering crime in general, homicides, and juvenile crime.  On the positive side, there are some reductions particularly in violent crime ...
Blog

Read about California's growing crime problem

Violent Crime in California– The Newsom Years, 2019-2023

Newsom, in turn, called out the murder rates in each of the lawmakers’ home states, proclaiming that Alabama had “…3X the murder rate of California”, Oklahoma had a murder rate “…40 % higher than California’s” and Arkansas was “literally DOUBLE California’s”. In order for Newsom’s posts on X to be ...
Blog

Newsom and the National Guard

Newsom’s office stated that the president’s order and the presence of the guard: “not only caused widespread panic and chaos, but have unnecessarily created an additional diversion of resources as the state tries to calm a community terrorized by this reckless federal action.” In fact, the “panic and chaos” was ...
Blog

Getting it all wrong about the other city by the bay

To be charitable, miners brave enough to go digging can discover occasional nuggets of value in Madrigal’s ponderous, and entirely predictable, jeremiad. For example: Oakland had its own version of the urban-renewal thuggery that would eventually lead to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kelo v. City of New London. In ...
Blog

Read the latest about the LA ICE riots

The Challenge of Democratic Policing

News of the fairly small federal enforcement action spread quickly amongst opponents of immigration enforcement, and based on the flags and signs, a host of other political causes as well, resulting in days of riots, assaults on police officers, arson, and vandalism. The situation is made more confusing in California ...
Blog

Months after election, is crime still a potent urban issue?

Months after election, is crime still a potent urban issue? Passed by 68% of voters last November 5, Proposition 36 increased penalties for certain drug offenses and for thefts under $950. On the same day, Nathan Hochman defeated Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, 65% to 35%. Gascón was a ...
Blog

Read the latest on Gov. Newsom's state budget plan

Governor Newsom’s Budget Message to Crime Victims – Like it or lump it.

For those who may have forgotten, Prop 36’s passage in November 2024 was historic. Despite opposition from Gov. Newsom, the majority of the state legislature, and a host of criminal rights groups, it passed in every county and won passage with over 68 percent of the vote statewide. One would ...
Commentary

Dr Currie Myers Interview of Steve Smith

An eye-opening discussion on the real state of public safety in the Golden State
Blog

Read about the latest bill to weaken CA's public safety laws

AB 622 – Early Release for Violent Offenders

Historically, an inmate serving a 25 to life sentence for murder is eligible for parole review 13 months prior to their 25th year in custody, adjusted for time in custody prior to sentencing. This is known as the Minimum Parole Eligibility Date (MEPD). After the passage of Prop 57, the ...
Scroll to Top