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California Overview

Geographical and Administrative Structure

  • California is comprised of:
    • 58 counties
    • 483 cities
    • Numerous special districts (e.g., water boards, fire districts)
    • School districts with some operating police departments.

Law Enforcement Agencies

  • Each county has a sheriff's department and most cities have a police department.
  • Police services are tailored to meet the unique needs of their communities.
Southern California Counties
  • Important Southern California counties include:
    • Los Angeles County
    • Contains nearly 4,000,000 residents (California Senate Governance and Finance Committee, n.d.).
    • Los Angeles Police Department employs almost 10,000 full-time officers (California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, 2021).
    • San Diego County
    • The City of Coronado has a total of 45 full-time police officers for a population of 24,000 residents (California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, 2021; United States Census Bureau, 2019).

Law Enforcement Data

  • The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) provides data on:
    • Employment and demographics of law enforcement officers across California.
  • The POST Data Portal can be utilized to investigate more about local law enforcement.

Structure of Government in California

Three Branches of Government

  • Executive Branch
    • Headed by the Governor, who is the chief executive officer of California.
    • Governed by Article V of the California Constitution, stating that:
    • "The Governor shall see that the law is faithfully executed."
    • The electorate selects the Governor, expecting them to maintain justice through the proper execution of laws.
    • Required qualifications for Governor:
    • Must be an elector, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of California for 5 years prior to election.
    • Cannot hold another public office simultaneously.
    • Limited to 2 terms in office (Cal. Const. art. 5).

Legislative Branch

  • Bicameral legislature, similar to the United States Congress.
  • Comprises:
    • Senate
    • 40 Senators elected for four-year terms (Cal. Const. art. 4).
    • Assembly
    • 80 members elected for two-year terms (Cal. Const. art. 4).
  • Responsible for law-making.

Judicial Branch

  • Defined in Article VI of the California Constitution as follows:
    • "The judicial power of this State is vested in the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, and superior courts, all of which are courts of record."
    • Every county has a superior court with one or more judges (Cal. Const. art. 6).

Population and Diversity in California

Demographics

  • As of July 1, 2019, California's estimated population was approximately 39,512,223.
    • Data sourced from the U.S. Census.
  • Significant racial demographics from the 2019 American Community Survey include:
    • Latino: 39%
    • White: 36%
    • Asian or Pacific Islander: 15%
    • African American: 6%
    • Native American or Alaska Natives: 1%
    • Multiracial or Other: 3%

Impact of Diversity

  • The diversity of California influences the administration of justice at various points within the system.
  • Encourages reflection on how local police forces resemble their communities based on demographic data.

Critical Reflection on California's Justice System

  • California serves as a leader in many positive aspects of the criminal justice system but also faces areas needing improvement.
  • Critical thinking and analysis are encouraged regarding the balance between strengths and weaknesses within the system.

References

  • California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. (2021, January 4). Current Employed Full-Time Sworn Reserve and Dispatcher Personnel. Retrieved from https://post.ca.gov/Portals/0/post_docs/hiring/le-employment-stats.pdf
  • California Department of Parks and Recreation. (n.d.). California Admission Day September 9, 1850. State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved from https://www.parks.ca.gov/page_id=23856#:~:text=In%201849%2C%20Californians%20sought%20statehood,state%20on%20September%209%2C%201850.
  • California Senate Governance and Finance Committee. (n.d.). Local Government. California Senate Governance and Finance Committee. Retrieved from https://sgf.senate.ca.gov/content/local-government.
  • United States Census Bureau. (2019). QuickFacts. Retrieved April 14, 2021 from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/coronadocitycalifornia