(Image Credit: IMAGN) California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Newsom, listen to students from New College of Florida on Wednesday during Newsom's stop at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in Sarasota on April 5, 2023.
Sacramento, California – A community grant program spearheaded by Governor Gavin Newsom, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office, has led to more than 14,000 retail crime cases being referred to district attorneys across California during its first year.
Launched in October 2023, the three-year, $267 million initiative, administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), funds 55 communities to bolster law enforcement efforts against organized retail theft. The Governor’s Office reports that 14,133 cases involving retail theft, vehicle theft, and cargo theft have been referred for prosecution since the program’s inception. Governor Newsom praised the results, highlighting the role of increased staffing, new crime deterrents, and stronger prosecutions in reducing crime. BSCC Board Chair Linda Penner added that the program is “transforming how law enforcement agencies combat organized retail crime.”
The program divides its funding between Prevention Grants and Vertical Prosecution Grants. The Prevention Grant distributed $242 million to 38 law enforcement agencies, enabling departments to purchase new equipment, hire additional personnel, and launch coordinated operations with the retail sector. Fresno Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Landon credited the grant for several key improvements, including the recovery of $1.2 million in stolen property, $400,000 in financial recoveries, and a 38% reduction in auto theft rates. Notably, the Fresno department also recovered a stolen vehicle involved in the kidnapping of a three-year-old child. It issued two warrants in connection with a $42,000 theft from beauty retailers.
The Vertical Prosecution Grant allocated over $24 million to 13 district attorneys’ offices to fund specialized teams dedicated to handling retail theft cases from start to finish. These teams work closely with victims and law enforcement, using new technologies for real-time case analysis. Sonoma County’s Chief Deputy District Attorney Scott Jamar noted that his office identified multiple organized retail theft suspects, leading to two arrests and the recovery of $16,000 in stolen jewelry within 96 hours.
In addition to direct crime-fighting efforts, counties like Yolo and Stanislaus have used grant funding to launch public education campaigns and develop faster investigation protocols. BSCC data shows a notable impact since the grant’s launch: property crimes have fallen by 8.5%, violent crimes by 4.6%, burglaries by 13.6%, and larceny crimes by 18.6%.
Building on this momentum, the BSCC recently approved another $127 million for mental health services, substance use treatment, and diversion programs. In August 2024, Governor Newsom signed bipartisan legislation further enhancing property crime enforcement and accountability measures in high-crime areas.
