Palo Alto, CA- Citing troubling new crime statistics from the California Department of Justice, today Democratic Attorney General candidate Chris Kelly questioned the ability of San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris to effectively protect the citizens of California from violent crime.  

While Kamala Harris is running to be the next top law enforcement official of California, newly released statistics show an increase in violent crimes including homicide and robbery in San Francisco County – the very area where Harris is directly responsible for reducing crime.

“The people of San Francisco deserve to be safe and secure in their homes and neighborhoods as much as every Californian,” said Kelly. "These rising San Francisco crime statistics are not merely troubling for the people of San Francisco -- they're also a disappointing and troubling comment on the leadership of San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris. Unfortunately, the stats speak for themselves in that regard.”

"Just last week, in campaign emails and national TV interviews, Kamala Harris repeated her mantra, 'Every Californian has the right to live without fear for their safety.'  In light of these troubling new crime statistics, San Franciscans should be asking Ms. Harris, 'What about us?'" Kelly said.
 
The crime statistics, released by the California Department of Justice last Wednesday, confirm that:

·      In 2008, San Francisco County had the highest homicide rate in California, and ranked third in the state for violent crime.
 
·      As the statewide homicide rate decreased by 16 percent between 2003 and 2008, San Francisco’s homicide rate increased by 32 percent.  

·      As the statewide rate of violent crime decreased by 15 percent between 2003 and 2008, San Francisco’s violent crime rate increased by 10 percent. 

·      San Francisco County had the highest robbery rate in the state in 2008, with an increase of 26 percent between 2003-2008.  

 Harris was elected as San Francisco D.A. in 2003.

“As the next Attorney General of California, public safety will be my top priority, not merely my top talking point.  I'll be ready on day one to provide Californians with innovative solutions, reduce crime and keep our citizens safe. I will modernize the California Department of Justice and increase the use of innovative technology not only to prosecute offenders, but also to prevent new crime from occurring in the first place. Technology can also be used to increase efficiencies in the office and save taxpayers money,” Kelly added.

With his unique experience in law, business and public policy, Kelly brings a fresh perspective to the Attorney General’s office.  In the early 1990’s, Kelly served as a domestic policy advisor to former President Clinton before graduating from Harvard Law School and serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology.  Returning home to California in 1997, Kelly then worked for a federal judge in San Diego, assisting on a wide range of civil and criminal cases such as drug smuggling and money laundering.

In 2005, Kelly became the first general counsel at Facebook, overseeing legal work, public policy issues and business matters for one of the world’s most successful and innovative companies. As legal counsel for the company, Kelly led efforts to protect the security, safety and privacy for an online community of now over 400 million people. In this role, Kelly worked side by side with Attorneys General in all 50 states to aggressively protect consumers, fight identity theft and crack down on sexual predators.