Convicting Felons
Convicting Felons <<
As District Attorney, Kamala Harris has recognized that violent criminals must be dealt with more effectively to ensure public safety. During her time as DA, she:
- Raised the overall felony conviction rate from 52% in 2003 to 67% in 2006, the highest in a decade.
- Raised the felony conviction rate at trial from 62% in 2003 to 80% in 2006.
- Sent 40% more serious and violent offenders to State Prison.
- Strengthened the Homicide Unit, reduced the backlog of homicide cases and, handling homicides aggressively, charged 87% of all homicide cases brought by police.
- Secured an 85% conviction rate for homicides.
- Increased convictions of drug dealers from 56% in 2003 to 74% in 2006.
Guns & Gang Violence <<
The District Attorney's office under Kamala Harris has also made combatting gangs a top priority. She has focused both on convicting those who have committed gang violence and on limiting the access of juveniles to weapons. Her efforts in San Francisco have proven successful, as she:
- Took more gun cases to trial and doubled the conviction rate in felony gun trials, from 43% in 2003 to 90% in 2006.
- Established a specialized unit to handle the prosecution of juvenile gun crimes and prosecute adults who furnish guns to minors.
- Prosecuted over 40% more juvenile gun cases in 2005.
- Strengthened gang prosecutions and increased convictions of violent gang members.
- Put 216 gang members behind bars.
- Doubled the number of sworn investigators assigned to the Witness Relocation and Support Program.
- Secured $500,000 in federal earmark from now Speaker Nancy Pelosi to create a gang violence suppression program in the Bayview.