Statement of Governor Ronald Reagan on Crime
To the Senate and
Assembly of the Legislature of
Legislation is being
introduced in the Senate and Assembly today that represents a comprehensive
“crime and law enforcement” package.
This package is an
effort to strengthen “soft spots” in the state’s laws and crime prevention
programs.
We are convinced that
enactment of this proposed legislation will help deter crime, will slow the
flood of pornographic material now available on our newsstands, will speed and
strengthen the administration of justice and will assure
We are asking for this
legislation:
1. An effective law to restore to the cities and
counties the ability to enact local laws designed to meet local problems. This is commonly referred to as the “implied
pre-emption issue.”
Such a law will allow
local law enforcement agencies to more thoroughly police their jurisdictions,
especially in the areas of vice, sex offenses and offenses against public
decency.
2. Laws increasing penalties for the criminals
who, during the commission of either a robbery,
burglary or rape, inflict great bodily harm upon their victims using dangerous
weapons. Society must be protected from
those who would inflict personal violence on its members. Three measures identical to those to be
introduced today were passed by both houses of the Legislature in 1965 but were
pocket-vetoed.
3. As mentioned earlier, comprehensive
legislation dealing with pornography and obscenity, with special emphasis on
prohibiting dissemination to minors of “harmful” material. A careful effort is being made to avoid any
suspicion of censorship.
4. We recognize that from time to time persons
are arrested unjustly or as victims of circumstances. Yet, despite, their innocence, they must live
the remainder of their lives with a public police record. We are offering a comprehensive legislative
approach that will provide relief for such persons while, at the same time,
preserving such records for use by law enforcement agencies and other
authorized persons.
5. We are also proposing that a California Crime
Foundation be created as a public corporation.
Such a Foundation would be financed and served by both the private and
public sectors.
Its purpose will be to
develop a coordinated state, local and private effort that would develop new
scientific techniques to combat crime, initiate research projects in the area
of police management, administration and basic research in the field of crime,
and encourage engineers and scientists to devote themselves to careers in crime
research.
Financing would be
accomplished by channeling to the Foundation funds now appropriated for certain
existing state law enforcement efforts and by private foundations and the business
community.
6. It is imperative to seek and maintain the
highest standards of judicial excellence in order to make sure that all our
citizens receive equal justice under the law.
For that reason, legislation is being presented which will assure the Governor
the opportunity to name only the most qualified attorneys to the bench.
Five of the above six
proposals must be passed by the Legislature to make them effective. The proposal on the selection of judges must
be approved by a vote of the people as it is an amendment to the Constitution.
However, the Governor’s
Office, by executive action, expects to take one more step in the near future
that will ease the law enforcement burden that rests on our various
crime-fighting agencies.
From time to time, statewide
conferences will be called as a means of making the public more aware of the
crime problem and the citizen more cognizant of his responsibilities. Such conferences will be attended by members
of the mass communications media, local civic and political leaders, students
and other interested citizens.
Without respect for the
law, the best laws cannot be effective.
Without respect for law enforcement, laws cannot be carried out. We must have respect, not only for the law,
but also for the many who dedicate their lives to the protection of society
through enforcement of the law.