David Ball was quoted in an East Bay Times and Mercury News article about a bill in the state Senate that would allow civilians to become candidates for sheriff.
David Ball, a Santa Clara University law professor, contended that nonprofit leaders could bring comparable large-scale organizational skills (as candidates with law enforcement experience), and civilian candidates could offer expertise in mental health and homelessness issues that increasingly intersect with police matters.
“There is lots of flexibility on how we organize the criminal-legal system. Nothing is inevitable about the way we do things now,” Ball said. “Wouldn’t we at least want the option of someone saying, ‘I have a different take on this,’ and submit it to the people of California to figure it out?”
