Dumanis joins other DA’s in fighting budget cuts

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 September 2009 12:38 Written by admin Friday, 30 January 2009 07:08

7:58 a.m. January 27, 2009

SAN DIEGO — San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis joined other prosecutors in sending letters to the governor and state legislature expressing opposition to the cutting of grant programs in child abuse, gang violence and other areas.

The letters from the California District Attorneys Association, of which Dumanis is president, were drafted in response to plans to completely eliminate funding from the Office of Emergency Services for such prosecution programs as Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement, Gang Violence Suppression Program and the High Technology Theft Apprehension and Prosecution Program.

CDAA noted that the 2008-09 budget already reduces expenditures by 10 percent in many of the programs, and argued their complete elimination will lead to increased crime in California against the most vulnerable citizens.

"We recognize the magnitude of the unprecedented budget shortfall facing our state and the sacrifices necessary to put California’s fiscal house in order,” the letter to state legislators says. "However, we believe that many of the proposals contained in the state budget disproportionately impact prosecutors, irrevocably damage public safety in California, and serve only to exacerbate our economic problems.”

In a second letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, prosecutors were highly critical of the plan to eliminate parole supervision for all non-serious, non-violent, and non-sex offenders.

"Parole is an essential law enforcement tool enabling peace officers to search the persons, vehicles and residences of parolees,” the letter states.

"Parole searches have saved innocent lives and prevented countless violent crimes. To unilaterally eliminate parole for thousands of prison inmates would constitute a public safety disaster.”

via – http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/27/dumanis-joins-other-das-fighting-budget-cuts/