Bill > AB1065

This bill creates the crime of "organized retail theft," which is defined as acting in concert with others to steal merchandise from merchants or online marketplaces with the intent to sell, exchange, or return the stolen items. The bill makes organized retail theft punishable as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the value of the stolen goods. The bill also establishes jurisdiction for criminal cases involving theft or receipt of stolen property in the county where the theft occurred, the county where the merchandise was recovered, or the county where any act was done by the defendant to aid in the commission of the offense. It also allows a peace officer to retain a person arrested for a misdemeanor if the person has recent prior convictions or citations for theft from a store or vehicle, or if there is probable cause to believe the person committed organized retail theft. Additionally, the bill authorizes the creation of diversion or deferred entry of judgment programs for repeat theft offenses, allows for the issuance of bench warrants for failure to appear on prior theft charges, and requires the Board of State and Community Corrections to administer a grant program for demonstration projects to reduce recidivism of high-risk misdemeanor probationers. Finally, it directs the California Highway Patrol to convene a regional property crimes task force to assist local law enforcement in counties with high levels of property crime, including organized retail theft. This bill is intended to provide a comprehensive approach to addressing the problem of organized retail theft in California.

Budget and Finance, Justice

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB1065