California Politician Seeks Steeper Penalties for Rapists After Prop. 57 Passes

TEMECULA, CA - A Riverside County lawmaker introduced legislation Monday seeking to correct what she deems a "shameful" change in state law coming on the heels of the Nov. 8 election.

Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, submitted Assembly Bill 27 in direct response to voter-approved Proposition 57, the Public Safety & Rehabilitation Act of 2016.

Prop 57 cleared the way for potential early release of an untold number of inmates convicted of a variety of offenses that supporters described as "non-violent." According to the California District Attorneys' Association, newly reclassified non-violent crimes include "rape by intoxication" and "rape of an unconscious person."

"It is shameful that a sexual predator who rapes a mentally ill or intoxicated individual is charged with a non-violent felony," Melendez said. "Now adding insult to injury, with the passage of Prop 57, that type of scum is eligible for early release."

AB 27 would permanently classify intoxicated or unconscious rape as a "violent felony," and individuals convicted of such crimes would be removed from the list of those who could be considered for early release credits, in spite of Prop 57.

"As is evident with this past election, there is work to be done, and I will continue my fight to do right by the people who have entrusted me to represent them," Melendez said.

Melendez was first elected to the Assembly in 2012.

- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock