San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris announced plans Thursday to introduce 11 committees of elected officials, police chiefs, and educators that are meant to help her transition to her new role as California’s attorney general.
The committees are part of a group called “Smart on Crime Leadership,” Harris said at a news conference this morning.
The group of officials will volunteer their time to gather information that she thinks is relevant to her work as attorney general, she said.
Committee categories include environment, policing, mortgage fraud and consumer protection, recidivism reduction, education and truancy, civil rights enforcement, victims’ rights and human trafficking, technology, budget and grants, and health.
“We’ve brought together California’s best and brightest to help develop smart policies on how to fix California’s broken criminal justice system,” Harris said at the news conference.
Each committee group will gather statistical data about its respective category and present the information in briefs to Harris, she said. The first brief is scheduled to be given in March.
Officials heading up the police committee include Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts, East Palo Alto Police Chief Ronald Davis, and San Francisco Police Chief Gascon.
“We’re fortunate to have an attorney general that has the foresight and vision to think smart on crime,” Gascon said at today’s conference, which was held at the Hiram W. Johnson state building.
In addition, officials from Palo Alto-based Facebook, San Jose-based eBay, Cupertino-based Apple Inc., and Mountain View-based Google will join Harris’ technology committee.
“In the state that has always stood as the birthplace of innovation and new technology, we need to bring new methods to bear on longstanding issues,” she said.
Saul Sugarman, Bay City News
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