Reimagining Community Safety: Sacramento County

• Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) deputies disproportionately stop Black people for traffic violations, reasonable suspicion and “consensual” searches compared to other racial groups.
  • In 2019, SCSO stopped Black people for equipment violations (e.g., defective brake lights) at a rate nearly 5.5 times higher than for white people. Deputies stopped Black people for non-moving violations (e.g., invalid registration) at a rate nearly 5 times higher than for white people.
• More than two-thirds (68%) of the 4,242 hours SCSO deputies logged enforcing traffic violations in 2019 were spent on non-safety related infractions such as equipment and non-moving violations that have little impact on community safety.
• SCSO deputies spend a considerable amount of time on traffic stops that result in a warning or no action.
  • In 2019, nearly 3 of every 4 hours spent enforcing traffic violations led to a warning or no other action.

Stop enforcing non-safety related traffic violations that can be used for racially biased pretextual stops:

Police often use non-safety related traffic violations as an excuse to search for evidence of criminal activity when they don’t have reasonable suspicion a crime has been committed or probable cause for a search. Since these minor offenses generally pose little risk to community safety, they could be managed through non-law enforcement safety programs. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office should decline to file charges stemming from a pretext stop or search where the traffic stop had no independent probable cause or other legal justification.

Fund community organizations and programs:

Sacramento County leaders can improve community safety by investing in local organizations that work to reduce interactions between the public and law enforcement, including groups that provide emergency mental health services, distribute food, and offer free vehicle brake light repair.

Increase the Sacramento County Public Defender’s budget:

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office received $62 million, about half the funding allocated to the district attorney’s office. With equitable funding, the public defender could hire additional staff, improve services to address recidivism, support incarcerated individuals with mental health care needs, and reduce jail overcrowding.