Boland and Allert Fight Again Over Anti-Crime Title

Clashing again over who is the steelier crime fighter, Assembly candidates Paula Boland and Irene Allert squabbled Thursday about which of them first called for an end to early prison releases for repeat sex offenders.

Boland, a Republican, said at a press conference that if she is elected she plans to introduce a bill prohibiting the early release of twice-convicted rapists and other sex offenders who accumulate credits for good behavior in prison.

Considered the front-runner in the GOP-dominated 38th Assembly District, Boland said she has already written legislation to introduce on her first day in Sacramento and that “this idea came from me.”

But Allert, a Democrat, said in a telephone interview that although she has not actually drafted a bill, she backs elimination of early releases and has discussed her support for such legislation in her campaign.

“It’s not original at all,” she said of Boland’s proposed bill. “It’s something that I’ve talked about.”

She also noted that Boland opposes Proposition 133 on Tuesday’s ballot, which contains a provision that would bar early release of those convicted of a variety of violent crimes, including rape and sexual assault.

The dispute marked the second time in less than two weeks that the candidates have argued over who has the better anti-crime credentials to represent the generally conservative 38th District. The seat is open due to the impending retirement of GOP Assemblywoman Marian W. La Follette (R-Northridge).

Speaking at a Northridge rape-counseling center, Boland said, “Incredibly, in this state a rapist” convicted a second time “is not called a ‘repeat rapist’ and therefore is given ‘good time’ off until he strikes for the third time. I’m outraged that our law books still contain this kind of insanity.”

She acknowledged that she has no statistics on how many convicted sex offenders have been released early, but said she knows the rate is high from reading news stories and talking with police and sex-crime victims.

Boland charged that her opponent was lying and waging “a campaign of deceit” in claiming that she was the first to propose keeping sex offenders in prison longer.

But Allert said she has often discussed the early release problem and other ways to toughen anti-rape laws during her campaign.

Allert also said that unlike Boland, she supports Proposition 133, which would raise state sales taxes by a quarter-cent for four years to raise money for drug enforcement and prevention programs. The initiative also would prohibit early release of those convicted twice of murder, manslaughter, rape and sexual assault. Allert said even first-time offenders should serve their full sentences.

Boland countered that taxpayers want tougher anti-crime laws without higher taxes. Asked if her bill wouldn’t cost the state more in prison costs, Boland said the state ultimately would save money by not having to arrest and prosecute convicts more than once.

Allert also criticized Boland for allying herself with the author of a successful June anti-crime ballot initiative that Allert said jeopardized abortion rights in California.

The initiative, Proposition 115, mandates that state courts follow federal rulings in determining criminal procedural rights. It was written by state Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim), who attended Boland’s press conference and said he would co-sponsor her bill in the Legislature.

Allert said critics, including Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp, while praising other aspects of the initiative, said it would effectively eliminate the right to privacy clause in the state Constitution, thereby jeopardizing abortion rights.

Van de Kamp is sponsoring a measure on Tuesday’s ballot, Proposition 129, which would clarify the ambiguous language in the law and would protect a woman’s right to have an abortion.

Allert, who favors abortion rights, said Royce’s appearance with Boland showed her “insensitivity to the choice issue.” Boland opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or medical complications that threaten a mother’s life.