Sacramento County sheriff launches “Protect Our Kids” initiative, seeks voter approval to restrict early release consideration
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper on Wednesday announced a new ballot initiative aimed at revising Proposition 57, calling for changes that would prevent sexually violent predators from being considered for early release under current parole laws.
Speaking during a press conference, Cooper unveiled the proposal titled “Protect Our Kids, Reform Prop 57,” describing it as a necessary step to address what he called unintended consequences of the voter-approved measure.
“I’m fed up, I’m frustrated. It has to change. We have to put victims first,” Cooper said.
Approved by California voters in 2016, Proposition 57 was promoted as a reform focused on nonviolent offenders, expanding opportunities for parole consideration and rehabilitation. However, Cooper said court rulings and the law’s current application have broadened eligibility beyond what many voters expected, shifting critical decisions away from courtrooms.
“The real damage of 57 that it gave the parole board way too much unfettered power,” Cooper said. “Every member of the parole board is appointed, not elected. They cannot even be told what to do by the governor. They routinely release violent inmates early, even after a jury trial and judicial sentencing.”
Under the proposed initiative, individuals convicted of sexually violent crimes would be excluded from early parole consideration, a move Cooper said would restore accountability to sentencing decisions handed down by judges and juries.
The announcement follows recent Sacramento-area cases involving convicted offenders David Alan Funston and Gregory Vogelsang, both identified by Cooper as examples of individuals whose cases have raised concerns about parole eligibility.
“What makes it so ironic in Sacramento, we have David Alan Funston, Mr. Vogelsang,” Cooper said. “He molested 7 girls and 1 boy, and I’m sure there are many more. Mr. Vogelsang molested 6 boys. That is the issue. What is the moral compass of this?”
Law enforcement officials said such cases often involve more victims than are ever formally reported.
“I can’t help but wonder, how many of you may have been a victim in your childhood because, unfortunately, not all these cases, the vast majority don’t get reported,” said Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Detective Ted Voudouris. “So, scars are forever. And I hope the public will understand what Sheriff Cooper is trying to do here.”
Investigators also questioned whether some offenders can be safely rehabilitated.
“Mr. Funston said I can control it. I don’t think so. Once a pedophile, always a pedophile,” said Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Detective Richard Aromando.
Cooper said the issue ultimately comes down to public safety and protecting children, framing the initiative as a clear choice for voters.
“If you’re against the proposition to protect our kids, that means you stand with pedophiles and predators. There’s no in between. Period. Bottom line,” Cooper said.
The campaign will now shift toward fundraising and gathering signatures required to qualify the measure for a statewide ballot. If successful, the proposal could appear before voters as early as 2028.
Cooper emphasized that the effort is not politically motivated but instead focused on closing what he described as a gap in current law.
“This is not complicated,” he said. “It comes down to a choice: protect our kids, or side with the predators.”
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said the initiative is intended to give voters the opportunity to revisit Proposition 57 after nearly a decade of implementation, particularly as its interpretation has evolved through court rulings and administrative decisions.
The proposal is expected to add to ongoing statewide debate over criminal justice reform, parole policies and how California balances rehabilitation efforts with public safety concerns.
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