California Criminal Justice Time Line 1822-2000 California Department of Justice Division of Criminal Justice Information Services Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS CENTER Historical Research: Adele Spears Graphics: Rebecca Bowe Editor: Tad Davis 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 Population Population Population Population Population 92,597 379,994 560,247 864,694 1,213,398

18221848 1850 1860 1887 I I I I I I I 1822 1846 1849 1851 1853 1872 1884 End of First jury San Francisco special Act passed by Legislature Penal In response to Spanish rule summoned by police force formed in California approves Code 313 stagecoach in California. Walter Colton, first response to Legislature makes formation becomes robberies Mexican American alcalde, in widespread robbery and grand of law. between 1870 control Monterey. lawlessness. larceny punishable California and 1884, begins. I by imprisonment Rangers to 1874 Wells Fargo 1848 First California or death. track down Construction creates its own Gold begins in 1836 constitution ratified. I Joaquin investigative discovered It forbids slavery and First San Francisco Murieta. Folsom on division, which First vigilance January 24 second committee formed requests admission to Vigilance captures by James the Union. Committee California Charles E. in “Pueblo de Marshall at prison built Los Angeles.” I formed. “Black Bart” Sutter’s Mill. First state election I on land. Bolton. I held Tuesday, Los Angeles Treaty of 1856 1891 November 13. Peter approves Second San Francisco Whittier State Guadalupe H. Burnett elected formation of Hidalgo Vigilance Committee School, the first governor of vigilance formed. beginning of signed. California. committee. One Mexico cedes I California’s I man hanged was Consolidation Act modern system California to First state legislature later proved U.S. enlarges and formalizes of juvenile meets in San Jose, the innocent. San Francisco’s police corrections, first capital of I force. Vigilance opens. California. First state prison, committee maintains I I a ship named influence by selecting State of C.S. Hastings elected “Waban,” opens. chief of police. California first Chief Justice of assumes the State responsibility for Supreme Court. 1852 executions. I First California Edward J.C. Kewen prison built on 1879 elected first attorney land, California constitution of 1879 general of California. San Quentin, is approved. State Board of Prison founded. Directors established. Private prison industries abolished.

1850 First county election held in San Francisco. Sheriffs, attorneys, judges, and coroners are elected. I California granted statehood and admitted as 31st state on September 9. 1930 1940 Prison Prison Population Population 1900 1910 1920 7,071 8,180 Population Population Population Population Population 1,485,053 2,377,549 3,426,861 5,677,251 6,907,387

1904 19121924 1932 1940 I I I I I I I I I I 1893 1905 1910 1914 1920 1927 1931 1935 1938 1942 California California Alice Los Angeles Volstead Act Division Wickersham Comprehensive First Last enacts its State Bureau Stebbins County creates (Prohibition) of Commission cites Motor Vehicle lethal official first of Criminal Wells Office of the takes effect. Narcotic need for more Act gas hanging parole Identification becomes Public Enforce- complete crime distinguishes execution occurs. law. created to first Defender, the 1917 ment information. between drunk carried maintain policewoman first of its kind California created as California becomes driving out. records on in in the U.S. adopts part of first state to resulting in wanted California Walton J. Wood indeter- the State establish a death or injury 1941 persons and and the U.S. becomes first minate Board of statewide reporting and all other California Youth those already public defender. sentencing Pharmacy. system to provide types; also Authority created. in I system. such data. increases I confinement. Congress passes 1926 I penalties for First woman Harrison Act to Georgia P. Bullock Act regulating sale, recidivism. executed in 1909 regulate and tax elected judge of possession, and San Quentin’s gas 1903 production, transportation of chamber. Law requires the Los Angeles 1937 Law enables California counties importation, Municipal Court. machine guns counties to to maintain and approved. Law authorizes use of She is California’s lethal gas as means of establish juvenile separate juvenile manufacture of first woman to I courts for detention facilities. opium or coca California execution in hold such a California. delinquents and leaves, their position. Legislature places restrictions derivatives, etc. establishes Board on detention of of Prison Terms juveniles with 1916 and Paroles. adults. August Vollmer develops I first formal, academic law California begins enforcement program. probation 1911 1929 programs. Law provides that no California Highway 1933 intoxicated person Patrol created. Two lynched in shall drive. I San Jose’s California Crime St. James Park for Commission kidnapping and requests legislature murder. Mob to hire statistician action praised by for Bureau of California Criminal Governor James Identification and Rolph, Jr. Information (CII). I CII formally Prohibition organized in 1930 repealed by 21st and begins data Amendment to collection from U.S. Constitution. agencies. 1960 1970 1980 1990 CCI Rate CCI Rate CCI Rate CCI Rate 1,441.8 2,987.1 3,922.1 3,443.0 Felony Felony Felony Felony Arrest Rate Arrest Rate Arrest Rate Arrest Rate 1952 1,170.0 2,049.8 1,977.2 2,490.5 CCI Rate 898.1 Felony Drug Felony Drug Felony Drug Felony Drug Arrest Rate Arrest Rate Arrest Rate Arrest Rate 1950 136.6 769.4 345.8 627.9 Prison Prison Prison Prison Prison Population Population Population Population Population 11,598 21,660 22,399 27,916 99,145 Population Population Population Population Population 10,586,223 15,860,000 20,039,000 23,668,145 29,557,836

1945 1966 1971 1981 1990 I I I I I I I I I I 1944 1952 1963 1967 1971 1974 1977 1982 1989 1991 California’s Bureau of U.S. Supreme Aaron Mitchell Keldgord Public Death California Roberti-Roos Beating of penal system Criminal Court rules dies in San Report calls for vote penalty voters Assault Rodney King by restructured Statistics begins that criminal Quentin’s gas restructuring results in reinstated approve Weapons four peace officers with Prison collecting data defendants chamber for of corrections reinstate- in Proposition 8, Control Act galvanizes public Reorganization on felony must have the killing of a in California ment of California. the “Victims’ approved. opinion Act. crimes and counsel and Sacramento with emphasis the death Bill of It regulates nationwide and Departments arrests, superior that illegally police officer. on community- penalty in Rights.” permits and highlights of Justice and court acquired He becomes based California. bans the sale, problems of Corrections dispositions, evidence is the 194th alternatives. 1981 manufacture, police and created. adult commit- not person Legislation provides and minority ments, Youth admissible. executed in the 1972 mandatory distribution relations. Authority gas chamber in Death penalty ruled minimum penalties of military- I wards, juvenile California. unconstitutional by for drunk driving type assault U.S. DOJ probation, and California Supreme convictions. rifles. launches jail population. 1966 Court. “Operation Weed U.S. Supreme Court rules 1976 1985 and Seed” to help 1945 that persons accused of Legislation decriminalizes California Department prevent crime and Bureau of Criminal crimes must be informed of marijuana; possession of of Justice’s (DOJ) improve quality Statistics (now Criminal their constitutional rights, one ounce or less Automated Fingerprint of life in high- Justice Statistics Center) including the right to becomes a misdemeanor. Identification System crime formed to collect remain silent, before being I becomes operational; neighborhoods. criminal justice data. questioned California invokes identifies Richard 1960 (“Miranda rights”). 1969 determinate sentencing. Ramirez, the Caryl Chessman executed “Use a Gun, I serial killer known as at San Quentin. Go to Prison” statute Death penalty again the Night Stalker. His execution for crimes enacted by California declared unconstitutional 1990 less than murder reopens Legislature. by California Supreme Blue Ribbon Commission on debate on death penalty. Court. Inmate Population Management recommends expanded use of punishment options with emphasis on community-based alternatives in response to prison overcrowding. I Congress passes Crime Control Act of 1990 prohibiting importation and manufacture of semi-automatic weapons designated as assault weapons. Act also establishes gun-free school zones. I Federal Hate Crimes Statistics Act becomes law. I First boot camp in California opens for juveniles in Los Angeles County. 2000 CCI Rate 1,780.1 Felony Arrest Rate 1,754.1 Felony Drug Arrest Rate 489.0 Prison Population 161,000 Population 34,480,000

19921995 1997 1999 2000 I I I I I 1992 1995 1997 1999 2000 Jury acquits four U.S. district judge holds that Restorative Justice Program Two Colorado high school California voters approve peace officers for inadequacies in the mental and funded in Santa Clara students kill 13 and injure Proposition 21, the the beating of medical health care system, a County. 23 before taking their own “Juvenile Crime Initiative,” Rodney King. Six pervasive pattern of excessive I lives. This incident, the requiring more juveniles to days of rioting in force against inmates, and the California Legislature enacts deadliest high school be tried in adult court and Los Angeles inclusion of seriously mentally Gambling Control Act. Act shooting in U.S. history, certain juveniles to be held County result in 54 ill inmates in security housing creates Division of arouses nationwide concern in jail or state correctional deaths; 2,383 units violate the 8th Gambling Control within about school violence and facilities. injuries; 13,000 Amendment at California’s California DOJ. gun control. I arrests; and $700 Pelican Bay State Prison. I FBI announces creation of million in property I Scandal erupts when former the Internet Fraud damage. California DOJ publishes its police officer, in a plea Complaint Center. first hate crime report. bargaining bid, alleges I I widespread corruption in President signs Violence California DOJ reestablishes California’s largest police Against Women Act of the Juvenile Court and department’s anti-gang 2000. Probation Statistical System. program. I I U.S. DOJ “consent decree,” Gallup Poll reveals signed by Los Angeles 1994 1996 widespread concern about mayor, calls for reforms California’s “Three Strikes and President signs “Megan’s racial profiling. within the city’s police You’re Out” criminal sentencing 1998 department and Law,” requiring states to California’s Little Hoover measure signed into law. notify law enforcement appointment of a federal I Commission finds that monitor. officials and the “county jails and state Congress amends Juvenile community when a I Justice and Delinquency prisons do not have California voters approve convicted sex offender adequate space to house Prevention Act of 1974. States moves into a Proposition 36, Substance must determine whether inmates and adequate plans Abuse and Crime neighborhood. do not exist to deal with the disproportionate minority I Prevention Act of 2000, confinement exists, identify the crisis.” allowing certain offenders California voters approve I causes, and develop and Proposition 215, “Medical probation with drug implement corrective action. FBI announces the National treatment. Use of Marijuana DNA Index System (NDIS). I Initiative.” Congress passes Brady I Handgun Violence Prevention California DOJ implements Act. California law exceeds Applicant Live Scan, a federal standard. system for the electronic I submission of fingerprints President signs Violent Crime and subsequent automated Control and Law Enforcement background check and Act of 1994. Bill contains response. funding authority totaling $30.2 billion for more than 60 different law enforcement, prison construction, and crime prevention programs.

Sources: Population data were provided by the Demographic Research Unit, California Department of Finance. Prison population data were provided by the California Department of Corrections. Crime and arrest data were extracted from Crime and Delinquency in California, published by the California Department of Justice. Notes: The California Crime Index (CCI) comprises homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. Crime rates were calculated using the total population. Arrest rates were calculated using the total at-risk population (persons 10-69 years of age).