Repeat offenders take a toll on local law enforcement

REDDING, Calif. — An increase in repeat offenders is being seen across the Northstate and it’s putting a strain on local law enforcement.

On Monday, the Redding Police Department (RPD) said a man, who was a repeat offender, had been arrested for breaking windows downtown. According to the Shasta County Sheriff’s In Custody list, that man, Logan Ashinhurst, is no longer in jail.

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RPD Chief Bill Schueller said they are starting to share more posts like these to be transparent with the community and show the struggle.

Schueller said since AB 109, which allows those convicted of less serious felonies to serve time in county jails rather than state prisons, they have seen the number of repeat offenders increase because it created a ripple effect that crowded the jails.

He said it impacts morale and can be frustrating to officers to deal with the same offender over and over again. So, he tells them to treat it like every other arrest while the administration works to find solutions.

“It is a huge moral issue when you’re dealing with the same person over and over again,” Schueller said. “We have people steal four or five cars in a day and our officers are continuously arresting them, booking them, they’re getting out and it’s happening again.”

Plus other laws like Prop 47 and Prop 57 changed a lot of felony crimes to misdemeanors, which Schueller said makes it easier for people to re-offend.

“So they can re-offend and re-offend and re-offend and it happens over and over again and there’s no accountability," Schueller said. "Even if we can book them in jail for a misdemeanor violation, which is very limited circumstances, the jail is at maximum capacity at all times. ”

He said they are also working with city and county leaders as well as the district attorney and sheriff 's office to find a solution.