A former California judge, Maryann Gilliard, who presided over cases involving some of the state’s worst criminals, has criticized Governor Gavin Newsom for signing laws that she believes have led to dangerous felons being released back into society. In a recent interview, Gilliard expressed her concerns about laws that allow early release of elderly felons and mental health diversion programs, which she believes have put the public at risk.
One of the cases that prompted Gilliard to speak out was the release of David Allen Funston, a 64-year-old child molester who was originally sentenced to three life terms for kidnapping and sexually assaulting several young children in the 1990s. Funston was released under the state’s elder parole program, which allows felons over the age of 50 who have served at least 20 years to petition for early release.
Gilliard criticized the elder parole program, citing cases like Funston’s where dangerous criminals are being released back into the community without proper consideration for public safety. She also highlighted other laws signed by Newsom, such as allowing murderers to stay on parole for as little as one year, weakening gang laws, and allowing felons who are not on probation or parole to serve on juries.
Another controversial law signed by Newsom is SB 1223, which allows criminal defendants to cite a wide range of diagnoses, such as ADHD or substance use disorder, to avoid jail time. Gilliard expressed concerns about the lack of guardrails in this program, calling it a “get-out-of-jail-free card” for offenders.
Despite Newsom’s office pointing to falling crime statistics as evidence that his policies are working, Gilliard and other critics argue that these laws are endangering the public. Gilliard called on the governor to take action and fix the broken system, stating that victims and their families are suffering as a result of these policies.
In conclusion, Gilliard highlighted the devastating impact of these laws on victims and their families, emphasizing the need for stricter limits on parole and diversion programs to ensure public safety. The debate surrounding Newsom’s criminal justice policies continues to be a contentious issue in California.
