Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing sharp criticism from an unexpected voice close to home.
With California lawmakers nearing the final stretch to send bills to the governor, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper is accusing state leaders of prioritizing offenders over victims, moving too slowly on voter-backed crime reforms and supporting policies he says reduce accountability.
Cooper criticized California’s approach to public safety during a recent appearance on KCRA 3’s California Politics 360, arguing that officials have not gone far enough to confront crime even after voters called for stronger consequences for repeat offenders.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from California’s public safety budgets. (Getty | INC News)
Asked to assess Newsom and the Legislature’s handling of crime issues, Cooper offered a blunt response.
“Not enough. Not enough,” Cooper said. “It’s just frustrating that people are hesitant to do anything.”
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Although California recently announced its lowest homicide rate in nearly six decades, Cooper argued the numbers don’t tell the whole story, saying victims continue to pay the price for policies that emphasize diversion and early release over accountability.
Police officers maintain a security perimeter near a bank in Bakersfield, California, United States on June 03, 2026, after a man reportedly barricaded himself inside the bank with eight hostages and was believed to be wearing an improvised explosive vest. (Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A major focus of Cooper’s criticism was Proposition 36, the voter-approved initiative that passed in 2024 with nearly 70% support statewide and in all 58 counties.
The measure increased penalties for repeat retail theft and certain drug crimes while allowing eligible offenders to have felony charges dismissed after completing court-ordered treatment.
“Not one statewide official supported it. And that’s troubling,” Cooper said during the interview.
Oakland police investigate the scene after shooting an armed carjacking suspect on International Boulevard and 105th Avenue in East Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. The condition of the man shot was not immediately available and he was transported to a local hospital. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
While Cooper said the law is already showing results, pointing to retailers reporting declines in theft, he argued Sacramento has failed to provide the funding needed to make the initiative successful.
“The issue is no funding, no funding came with it,” he said. “It is working. But without funding, it doesn’t go anywhere.”
State leaders have said this year’s budget includes $375 million to help implement Proposition 36, though KCRA reported budget documents show $50 million is specifically directed toward Proposition 36-related court and pretrial services.
Cooper also blasted California’s expanding mental health diversion system, warning proposals to make more theft offenses eligible for diversion would undermine the very initiative voters overwhelmingly approved.
“It would water it down,” Cooper said, adding that some lawmakers “don’t want anybody held accountable.”
Although Newsom recently signed legislation adding new guardrails to the diversion program, Cooper argued it still allows offenders accused of shocking crimes to avoid traditional prosecution.
David Allen Funston, a convicted child predator whose parole approval sparked political backlash, remains in custody after prosecutors revived a 1996 molestation case that halted his release under California’s Elderly Parole Program. (Ann Johansson/Corbis via Getty Images/Fox40)
“Some crimes are so shocking … you shouldn’t be eligible for mental health diversion,” he said, pointing to offenses including felony child abuse and crimes involving sexually violent predators.
The sheriff also renewed his criticism of California’s domestic violence laws, arguing the state still refuses to classify many felony domestic violence offenses as violent felonies despite the devastating injuries suffered by victims.
“Domestic violence goes on every day. Doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor. Happens in every neighborhood. We have to treat it seriously,” he said.
When asked why lawmakers continue opposing legislation to classify domestic violence as a violent felony, Cooper replied bluntly.
“They have no argument. They just vote against it,” he said.
The criticism is consistent with Cooper’s recent public campaign against California’s criminal justice policies.
In recent months, the sheriff has argued that “domestic violence is one of the most personal and devastating forms of violence, but California law can still classify felony domestic violence as ‘non-violent.’ That needs to change.”
He has also repeatedly criticized lawmakers over Proposition 36, accusing them of ignoring nearly 70% of California voters by advancing diversion programs for retail theft offenders instead of fully funding and implementing the initiative.
“Californians were fed up with retail theft and passed Prop. 36 in all 58 counties,” Cooper wrote in a recent statement, arguing lawmakers instead responded by proposing new diversion programs that allow some offenders to avoid convictions.
Cooper has also emerged as one of the state’s most vocal critics of California’s youth offender and elderly parole policies, arguing they have systematically reduced accountability for violent offenders.
After five young suspects were charged in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Sacramento State student who was struck while riding in the back of an Uber, Cooper warned that California law often places greater emphasis on the offender’s age than the severity of the crime.
He argued that changes stemming from Proposition 57, youth offender parole laws and elderly parole policies have created a system where serious offenders can receive earlier release based on age rather than the harm inflicted on victims.
“The law places limits on how long offenders can be held but takes zero ownership of the damage done to victims and their families,” Cooper wrote. “This is not a system failing. It is a system operating exactly as designed.”
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has come out strongly against a proposed state billionaire tax while pushing a similar national tax. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Cooper has also criticized California’s compassionate release program after a convicted attempted cop killer, who had been released early after shooting at Stockton police officers, was later arrested on new weapons charges.
Following that arrest, Cooper accused lawmakers of ignoring warnings from prosecutors and law enforcement about expanding release standards.
“The experts in the room saw the risks and they were ignored,” he wrote. “This is what happens when ideology outweighs public safety.”
Cooper closed his latest interview with a message he says Sacramento has lost sight of.
“We’ve got to get back to the victims.”
INC News has reached out to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office for comment.
