SACRAMENTO, Calif., February 9, 2024 – Chief Probation Officers of California Executive Director Karen Pank issued the following statement following today’s Retail Theft Advisory Committee hearing:

“Today’s hearing was another important step to find solutions and clearly demonstrated the need for changes in the law that will improve safety in communities and bring back an important balance in our system. The testimony of small business owners is compelling and demonstrates that state leaders cannot wait any longer to act. We urge lawmakers to listen to experts who are in the field every day on the changes to the law that will enhance accountability and services that help reduce recidivism. One immediate way to improve safety is to make drug courts mandatory again with incentives and consequences. New laws have made probation terms shorter than the length of effective drug treatment programs. We can immediately make a difference in theft crimes from people who are stealing to fuel their drug addictions by fixing state laws to mandate drug treatment programs.”

The Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) is an association of all 58 counties with a shared identity as law enforcement leaders. CPOC is committed to a research-based approach to public safety that promotes positive behavior change. Their leadership guides policy and practice in prevention, community-based corrections, secure detention for youth, and direct human services. CPOC’s goal is to prevent crime and delinquency, reduce recidivism, restore victims, and promote healthy families and communities.

For more information about CPOC, please go to www.cpoc.org.

Media Contact: Laura Dixon laura@cpoc.org 510-384-3020

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