header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
April 26
1906 - Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in The Philippines [story]
Bobby Batugo


antonovich_cropA recent tragic kidnapping has highlighted how AB 109’s historic shift in responsibility has had a major negative impact in many Los Angeles County communities, Supervisor Michael Antonovich said Tuesday.

“The governor’s failed realignment program is a proven threat to public safety, which has overwhelmed probation departments and local law enforcement agencies statewide,” Antonovich said.

“The governor needs to take the proper steps and call a special session of the legislature to repeal this reckless program,” he added.

Antonovich’s most recent statements were in light of the fact that police officers Monday were looking for a high-profile Northridge kidnapping suspect who was an AB 109 parolee.

But it’s a problem in the Santa Clarita Valley, as well.

More than one-third of all criminals who are released under AB 109, which is known as the Post-Release Community Supervision Act are re-arrested, according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station statistics.

At the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, Capt. Paul Becker recently announced two county probation officers, who were being brought on to help to ease the burden.

Their primary task would be keeping an eye on AB 109 offenders, he said in a March interview.

“The county approved two probation officers — we’re going to embed one in our detective unit and one in our Crime Prevention Unit,” said Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Capt. Paul Becker.

“(The probation officers) will be doing (address) verifications, they’ll have the authority to do incarcerations, they’ll make sure that if there are any contingencies that they’re in adherence to that,” Becker said.

Sheriff’s Station officials have not commented on whether there’s a direct link between AB 109 and the rise in petty thefts, burglaries and larcenies, citing the fact that it’s too early to draw conclusions without a formal study, and statistical analyses have been skewed by the city’s recent annexations.

However, in the last year, stationwide statistics bear out a notable rise in less-serious crimes, such as burglaries and larcenies, which are the type of offenses for which parolees generally receive “flash incarcerations,” which are 7- to 10-day sentences for violating parolees.

A Criminal Justice Legal Foundation statement decried AB 109 Tuesday, citing countywide stats that point to the fact that these offenders frequently commit crimes shortly after they are released.

Under AB 109, which is also known as re-alignment, misdemeanor offenders are serving about 10-15 percent of their sentences prior to release. Once maximum jail capacities are met, the amount of time served will continue to decrease.

There have been 11,473 criminals sentenced to LA County jail rather than prison since Realignment began in October 2011, according to statistics from Antonovich’s office.

Among these offenders, 40 are serving sentences between eight and 40 years. There are now more than 43,000 inmates serving sentences in local jails rather than state prison. This is expected to increase to 52,000 by 2014.

While the SCV Sheriff’s Station still has the lowest crime rate of any area in L.A. County, with the exception of Catalina, the crime numbers have risen.

Statistics made available by the Sheriff’s Station in March showed an increase of 77 Part-I crimes in a comparison of year-to-date figures for the first two months of last year to the first two months of this year, for the station’s entire patrol area.

The number of reported burglary incidents have increased by more than 56 percent in a year-to-year comparison, according to LASD statistics.

In other areas, the rise is much more statistically significant.

Crime reports from both the Sheriff and Probation departments indicate that property crimes across the county have increased dramatically over the last 12 months.

Burglaries have increased by 175 percent in Hawaiian Gardens; 172 percent in Walnut; 130 percent in Lomita; 100 percent in Artesia; and 92 percent in La Mirada, according to a CJLF statement.

Auto theft has jumped by 365 percent in Artesia; 152 percent in Crescenta Valley; 120 percent in San Dimas; 100 percent in Marina Del Rey; and 50 percent in Palmdale.

More recently, police are searching for Tobias Dustin Summers for the March 24, early morning bedroom abduction of a 10-year-old SoCal girl.

The victim was found 12 hours later wandering near a Starbucks several miles from her home. She had been sexually assaulted.

In spite of prior convictions for robbery, auto theft and kidnapping, Summers was released from prison to county probation instead of state parole under re-alignment.

He served six days in jail last January for violating probation, which, before realignment, would have resulted in his being sent back to state prison.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
TMU Biology Students Earn Recognition at Annual Research Conference
Earlier this month, a team of biology students at The Master’s University won a distinguished award at one of the oldest intercollegiate research conferences in the country.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
April 26-28: Community Weekend Returns to CalArts
California Institute of the Arts' Community Weekend kicks off on Friday, April 26 and runs through Sunday, April 28.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
May 16: Children’s Bureau Foster Care Orientation
May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month! Celebrate by applying to become a resource parent and fostering or foster-adopting siblings.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1906 - Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in The Philippines [story]
Bobby Batugo
Starting Monday, April 29, construction on the South Fork Trail will begin to replace a portion of the lodgepole fencing, the city of Santa Clarita announced.
South Fork Trail Construction to Begin April 29
College of the Canyons dual-sport athlete Sam Regez will continue his career at University of Portland with plans to run on both the cross country and track and field programs.
COC Standout Sam Regez Signs with University of Portland
An entertainment industry initiative to support the voices of California State University, Northridge film and TV students was celebrated with a recent screening of stories they created. 
‘Changing Lenses’ Initiative Lends Voice to CSUN Film, TV Students
How important is Film and Tourism to the Santa Clarita Valley Economy? 
SCVEDC Delves into Santa Clarita Film, Tourism Impact
Earlier this month, a team of biology students at The Master’s University won a distinguished award at one of the oldest intercollegiate research conferences in the country.
TMU Biology Students Earn Recognition at Annual Research Conference
Lisa Zamroz has announced her intent to step down as the head coach of The Master's University's women's basketball team effective July 1, 2024.
TMU Women’s Basketball Coach to Resign
Spring heralds a time of renewal and rejuvenation, not just in the natural world, but within our homes and lives as well.
Cameron Smyth | Spring Cleaning Your Neighborhood
College of the Canyons student-athletes Gigi Garcia (softball) and Hannes Yngve (men's golf) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 15-20.
COC Names Gigi Garcia, Hannes Yngve Athletes of the Week
California Institute of the Arts' Community Weekend kicks off on Friday, April 26 and runs through Sunday, April 28.
April 26-28: Community Weekend Returns to CalArts
May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month! Celebrate by applying to become a resource parent and fostering or foster-adopting siblings.
May 16: Children’s Bureau Foster Care Orientation
Santa Clarita resident Edina Lemus has been appointed Administrator of the Veterans Home of California in Lancaster by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom Appoints SCV Resident Veterans Home Administrator
The California Department of Transportation has scheduled Lane Closures on the northbound and southbound State Route 14 between Technology Drive in Palmdale and Avenue A in Lancaster, closing up to three lanes.
Caltrans Announces SR-14 Lane Closures
1906 - Bercaw General Store opens in Surrey (Saugus) [story]
Bercaw Store
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond testified today in the Senate Education Committee about the need for results-proven training for all teachers of reading and math.
State Superintendent Makes Historic Push for Results-Proven Training in Literacy, Math as Sponsor of SB 1115
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
Ocean Water Warning for April 24
Dust off the boots and get ready to holler, because Boots In The Park making its way to back to Santa Clarita, y’all. 
May 10: Boots In the Park Returns to Santa Clarita
State Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) and Supervisor Kathryn Barger honor the memory of those lost 109 years ago in Armenian Genocide. 
Barger, Wilk Recognize Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
The Salvation Army Santa Clarita Valley Corps is excited to announce the inaugural Donut Day event.
June 7: Salvation Army SCV Announces Inaugural Donut Day Event
The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation has approved $370,000 in funding to support the Vet@ThePark program operated by the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control.
LAC Animal Care Foundation Provides $370K Grant to Support Vet@ThePark
The California Department of Public Health is encouraging Californians to take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27.
CDPH Urges Californians to Support Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion, introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath, proclaiming May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Los Angeles County.
Supes Proclaim May as Mental Health Awareness Month
The Grammy-award winning rock ‘n’ roll group Blues Traveler will take the stage of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. May 9. 
May 9: Blues Traveler to Perform at PAC
1962 - SCV residents vote to connect to State Water Project, creating Castaic Lake Water Agency (now part of SCV Water) [story]
Castaic Lake
SCVNews.com