When a law meant to help the mentally ill lets child abusers and bank robbers walk free, is it justice or just plain madness? Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper is sounding the alarm on California’s mental health diversion policy, and the stories he’s sharing are nothing short of chilling.
In essence, Sheriff Cooper warns that a 2018 California law on which Gov. Gavin Newsom has largely demurred and one that allows mental health diversion instead of prison, is being exploited by repeat offenders, even in horrific cases involving child abuse and violent crime, undermining public safety, as Fox News reports.
Back in 2018, California passed legislation under AB 1810 and SB 215, creating a pathway for defendants to halt criminal proceedings and enter treatment programs. If completed successfully, their charges vanish, and records are wiped clean. The intent was to aid those whose mental struggles led to crime.
Sheriff Cooper, however, sees a darker reality unfolding. He’s called this policy a “terrible” framework, abused by career criminals who dodge accountability. It’s a system, he argues, that’s spiraled far beyond its original compassionate purpose.
The law’s scope is staggeringly broad, excluding only a handful of severe crimes like murder, voluntary manslaughter, and certain sex offenses. Most other acts, from armed robbery to child abuse, can qualify for diversion. Nearly any DSM-5 diagnosis, barring a few exceptions, opens the door to leniency.
Cooper’s frustration boils over with real-world examples from Sacramento County. He points to cases where diversion was granted despite unthinkable cruelty, like a father who fatally beat his 1-year-old daughter after admitting heavy drinking, yet avoided prison through this program.
Other incidents are equally harrowing. A 20-month-old boy died with 49 injuries from parental battery, a toddler was smothered on video by her father, and a three-year-old overdosed on Lithium force-fed by caretakers. Shockingly, many of these perpetrators qualified for or received diversion.
Cooper didn’t hold back on the consequences. “If you beat your kid to death, you should not be around kids. When he got diversion, it erased his record… He can be a teacher, a coach - and that’s scary,” he said.
While Cooper’s words spotlight a terrifying loophole, conservatives aligned with President Donald Trump might argue this is what happens when progressive agendas prioritize ideology over public safety. Shouldn’t justice protect the most vulnerable first, rather than offering clean slates to violent offenders?
Then there’s the case of Darren Campoy, 44, arrested in November 2025 for robbing Sacramento Credit Union of $2,460 on Oct. 15, 2025. Despite a history of armed robbery and prior diversion, he was released under supervision -- only to allegedly strike again within a year.
Gang violence also slips through the cracks, per Cooper’s office. Brothers Adam and Juan Velasquez, Howe Park Sureño gang members, attacked an innocent man; Juan got diversion instead of jail. By May, while on probation, they allegedly assaulted another victim at a restaurant.
Cooper’s outrage is palpable as he describes systemic abuse. “These bad guys know there is zero accountability… They talk about it in our jails. We’ve got them on record talking about mental health diversion — how to exploit it and get out of their cases,” he warned.
That stark reality, conservatives might note, clashes with the tough-on-crime stance of President Trump, who champions accountability over endless second chances. When judges’ hands are tied, as Cooper claims, isn’t it time to rethink policies that leave communities at risk?
Efforts to fix this are underway, with Assembly Bill 433 by Assemblymember Maggy Krell aiming to block diversion for child abuse and serious injury cases. Cooper’s team calls it progress, though much remains undone. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, meanwhile, deflects, stating that courts alone decide diversions.
As January 2026 approaches, Cooper vows to fight for reform when the Legislature reconvenes. His department will keep exposing flaws in this “broken system.” For now, one wonders if California will prioritize safety over misguided leniency before more tragedies unfold.
