California’s black reparations task force has released its final report, calling for the state’s Democrat lawmakers to prohibit the arrest and prosecution of individuals who violate laws against public urination and other “public disorder offenses.”
The report, consisting of over 1,000 pages and 40 chapters, includes various policy recommendations, one of which is the discontinuation of police enforcement of these laws, Fox News Digital reports.
California is a step closer to giving reparations to millions of Black residents descended from enslaved people, as a state task force presented more than 100 recommendations to legislators last week after more than two years of research and public hearings. pic.twitter.com/36NaOM4u4E
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) July 3, 2023
The task force argues that a significant portion of law enforcement interactions with the public involve low-level, non-violent offenses.
These offenses often include illegal camping, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, minor trespass, and public urination.
The final meeting of the Reparations Task Force in California descended into chaos as members of the public demanded immediate reparations.
The task force has recommended potential payments of up to $1.2 million for qualifying black Californians.
However, these payments are… pic.twitter.com/3DdY0sVm4W
— IV Times (@iv_times) June 30, 2023
The report claims that individuals involved in such incidents are frequently experiencing homelessness or a mental health crisis.
According to the task force, police officers lack the necessary training and expertise to effectively handle these vulnerable populations, leading to instances of excessive force and fatal encounters, disproportionately affecting Black individuals.
To address this issue, the task force recommends that the legislature prohibit law enforcement from criminally enforcing public disorder infractions and other low-level crimes.
Instead, a separate public health and safety institution, without the power of criminal arrest or prosecution, would be responsible for enforcing prohibitions on activities such as sleeping on sidewalks or fare evasion.
Today the California Reparations Task Force will submit recommendations based on more than two years of research of public records and hundreds of hours of public meetings. pic.twitter.com/sOHO15Hk1V
— CA Senate Dems (@CASenateDems) June 29, 2023
The report suggests that those arrested or prosecuted for these administrative violations should have the right to sue for damages or receive automatic compensation.
While the report does not specify an exact dollar amount for reparations to descendants of slaves living in California, it emphasizes that the compensation should be significant.
The call to end the criminal enforcement of “public disorder offenses” is just one of many recommendations made by the task force.
This proposal aligns with previous sentiments expressed by leftist voices in California.
Former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, for instance, pledged during his 2019 campaign not to prosecute cases involving quality-of-life crimes such as public camping, public urination, and blocking sidewalks.
