California’s war on common sense continues, and now even San Francisco’s own district attorney is sounding the alarm after the state Supreme Court handed down a ruling critics say could unleash repeat offenders back into communities already struggling with crime.
In a unanimous 7-0 decision issued April 30, the California Supreme Court ruled that judges must set bail amounts defendants can realistically afford and can only fully deny bail in cases involving violent or sexual offenses. The ruling stemmed from a case involving a homeless man arrested for using a found credit card to buy a $7 cheeseburger — because naturally California somehow turned that into a legal revolution affecting the entire state.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins blasted the decision in an interview with the New York Post, warning that the ruling threatens years of work spent locking up repeat offenders who have terrorized businesses and neighborhoods.
“Not only is this a devastating ruling for the DA’s office, but a devastating ruling for our state and for San Francisco,” Jenkins said.
And the consequences were immediate.
Within days of the ruling, defense attorneys reportedly cited the new precedent while pushing for the release of more than 90 inmates facing charges related to drug dealing, theft, and other crimes. One woman accused of carrying out a violent 2023 crime spree involving a hammer attack and a robbery with scissors was reportedly released wearing only an electronic monitor. Because apparently California now believes ankle bracelets are the same thing as public safety.
Jenkins highlighted several notorious repeat offenders her office had finally managed to jail. One suspect, Aziza Graves, allegedly stole more than $60,000 worth of merchandise from a single Target store across 120 visits. Another suspect, Tyrese Boswell, allegedly targeted the same Walgreens 27 times in under six months.
Meanwhile, San Francisco police recently conducted a drug bust resulting in 62 arrests, with 52 suspects already carrying outstanding warrants — a statistic that perfectly explains why many residents feel trapped in an endless revolving door of crime and release.
Ironically, San Francisco had actually seen major reductions in crime over the last year. According to police data cited in the report, burglaries dropped 26%, robberies fell 23%, and vehicle theft declined 44% between 2024 and 2025. Jenkins credited those improvements largely to tougher pretrial detention policies that kept repeat offenders off the streets before trial.
Now many fear those gains could quickly disappear.
The ruling also puts California increasingly out of step with a growing national push toward stricter crime policies. President Donald Trump has already taken aim at cashless bail systems through executive action, while voters in states like Alabama and Indiana are considering measures to expand judges’ authority to detain dangerous suspects before trial.
Jenkins didn’t hold back when describing the damage she believes the decision will cause.
“We are going to continue to be the brunt of every joke and attack on Fox News, and rightfully so,” she said.
At this point, even California officials themselves are admitting the obvious: policies that prioritize criminals over law-abiding citizens eventually come with consequences. The good news is that more Americans are recognizing the importance of restoring law and order before more cities follow the same path.
