Deukmejian Unveils Plans for Anti-Crime Legislation

Gov. George Deukmejian Friday unveiled an ambitious package of anti-crime legislation he said would clamp down on child-abuse cases and keep dangerous criminals behind bars after their scheduled release dates.

Speaking before the California Police Chiefs Assn. here, Deukmejian outlined a criminal justice agenda that also includes reducing the size of juries in misdemeanor cases, hastening the execution of capital offenders and aiding victims of domestic violence.

“There is perhaps nothing more heart-wrenching in our society today than the nightmare of child abuse,” Deukmejian told the state’s police chiefs. “Our children are the most vulnerable among us. Their protection must be our highest priority.”

Toward that end, Deukmejian said he is proposing to spend $1.5 million to help establish local prosecution units to handle child-abuse cases.

Under his proposal, one prosecutor would handle a child-abuse case from beginning to end. This system should result in a greater number of convictions, the governor said.

Furthermore, Deukmejian said, he would seek to increase penalties for day-care providers who “take advantage of their special relationship with children to abuse them.”

And he said he would sponsor legislation to require the fingerprinting of employees of volunteer agencies who work with children.

The child-abuse proposals, the governor said later, were in part prompted by the McMartin Pre-School case in Manhattan Beach.

Continuing his battle to block the release of criminals he considers dangerous, Deukmejian called for new laws that would permit prisoners to continue serving time after their terms have expired.

Prisoners who “still pose a threat to society because of mental disorders” would face a hearing to determine if they are too dangerous to be released.

After his speech, the governor declined to provide details of his proposal but said: “We think it would be wise to have a process where information could be presented at a hearing and then a determination made about keeping that person beyond the end of that individual’s term.”

Deukmejian said his proposal could affect 75 inmates who are now scheduled to be released.

Speed Trials

The governor said he would also seek legislation to speed criminal trials by reducing the size of juries in misdemeanor cases from 12 members to six.

In addition, the governor--a former attorney general--said he is proposing to save trial time by requiring that judges--not attorneys--question prospective jurors.

“Swift and sure justice--the innocent deserve it and the guilty know they are going to get it,” he told the police chiefs.

Keeping up his attack on the California Supreme Court, Deukmejian said he would sponsor the reintroduction of legislation to speed up the execution of more than 170 murderers sentenced to death in California since 1977.

“During these past seven years, many innocent people have been murdered,” he said, “but not one murderer has paid the ultimate penalty.”

His bill, similar to a measure rejected by the Legislature last session, would overturn some decisions of the high court that he said have prevented implementation of capital punishment.

Battering Victims

To aid victims of family violence, Deukmejian said he is proposing to spend $1.8 million on local programs that primarily assist women and children who have been battered by their husbands or fathers.

“This will be the first expenditure of state resources for family violence prevention and treatment programs, and I think it’s long overdue,” the governor said.

And to give police a freer hand to prevent violence in domestic disputes, the governor said he would seek legislation permitting officers to make an arrest for misdemeanor assault without a warrant in certain cases.

In addition, the governor said he would sponsor legislation to crack down on gang activity by imposing stiff penalties for youths who carry concealed weapons and for people who intimidate witnesses in criminal cases.

The governor said he will also seek a law to require mandatory prison sentences for large-scale marijuana growers.

Some of the measures contained in the governor’s package have already been introduced in the Legislature, Deukmejian said. The remainder will be introduced shortly so they can be acted upon this session.