California's investment to combat organized retail crime shows early results

After receiving California's largest-ever single investment to combat organized retail crime, law enforcement agencies across the state report they've already used the money to make an initial 900+ arrests and will hire more police officers. The $267 million state investment — which is a signature part of Governor Newsom's Real Public Safety Plan — was distributed to 55 cities and counties in October 2023 to prevent crime, and increase arrests and prosecutions for organized retail crime.

“California is funding the police and reaping results: With the state's $267 million investment to combat organized crime, law enforcement agencies report they're hiring more officers, making more arrests, and prosecuting more cases,” noted Newsom. “These early results show promise and the state will continue to monitor local outcomes to ensure public safety is being delivered.”

The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) recently published the results of a survey it sent to all recipients of the Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant and the Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Grant Program. The survey asked grantees to identify their planned activities and share highlights related to early progress in implementing the funding. Among reporting agencies, outcome highlights include:

Five agencies report using the funds to make at least 900 arrests so far (Reporting agencies: Hemet Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Modesto Police Department, Roseville Police Department, and Sacramento County Sheriff's Department)

Nearly 70 percent of law enforcement agencies plan to — or have already hired — more staff with the state funds, including more police.

Seventy-five percent of grantees say they will use the state funds to increase organized retail crime sting operations, establish crime centers, and increase police patrols.

Ninety-eight percent of grantees plan on utilizing the funds to purchase improved crime-fighting technology to help boost the ability to surveil, track, and investigate criminal enterprises.

One hundred percent of district attorney offices who received funds have begun focused efforts to establish an organized retail crime vertical prosecution unit to increase prosecutions.

Full survey results can be viewed online at https:// www.bscc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ Organized-Retail-TheftGrants-Initial-Survey-Results-FINAL.pdf.