As District Attorney of San Francisco, Kamala Harris attempted to implement a lenient policy for drug dealers in 2005 that would have allowed them to be arrested and released twice before facing charges on their third offense. Known as “Operation Safe Streets,” the program was designed to delay prosecution until law enforcement could build stronger cases. However, the plan was quickly rejected by then-police chief Heather Fong.
In her October 24, 2005 letter to Harris, Fong expressed concern that the policy would lead to increased drug activity in San Francisco, particularly near schools. “This proposal asks us not to arrest, but instead detain and release observed narcotics sales suspects,” Fong wrote, adding that the plan would create a double standard in which adults would be released while juveniles would be booked.
Harris’s office defended the program as a way to build more solid cases, but it was met with widespread opposition. Both police officers and defense attorneys dismissed the proposal as ineffective and confusing. Police officers warned that releasing drug dealers without consequences would demoralize the force, while defense attorneys questioned the practicality of the plan.
As Harris continues to tout her record of being tough on crime during her presidential campaign, this failed policy has resurfaced as evidence that her approach to criminal justice was softer than she claims. Critics argue that this proposal, in particular, highlights her leniency on serious criminal issues.
