Tom Steyer on Crime Democratic Presidential Challenger; CEO

I've worked to end private prisons in my state

Tom STEYER: I bought stock in a prison company thinking they would do a better job. And I investigated. And I sold it.

BIDEN: But you when you bought it they'd done that.

STEYER: Since then, I have worked to end the use of private prisons in my home state, and we have ended it.

We need to break the school-to-prison pipeline

Mistake to invest in private prisons, fought for state ban

Focus on white supremacist violence as domestic terrorism

Transgendered hate crimes: unequivocally prosecute severely

STEYER: There are citizens in our society who are being targeted for murder as a result of who they are. This is a straightforward attack on humanity itself to kill somebody for who they are. That has got to be the definition of a hate crime. We have got to prosecute those as severely as possible, as a symbol of who we are, a symbol of the thing that we won't put up with. And every prosecutor has got to know that, that this is something that goes to the heart of American equality and justice. And that's got to be straightforward, unequivocal, not a 99 percent rule, a 100 percent rule.

Regrets Farallon's $34M investment in corporate prisons

More parole opportunities for convicted non-violent felons

Report on Steyer's stance and spending on ballot initiatives:
• California Proposition 57, Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Court Trial Requirements (2016)
• Steyer Supported; Steyer spent $1.75 million; outcome: Approved
• Proposition 57 was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in California as a combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute. It was approved.
• A "yes" vote supported increasing parole and good behavior opportunities for felons convicted of nonviolent crimes and allowing judges, not prosecutors, to decide whether to try certain juveniles as adults in court.
• A "no" vote opposed this measure increasing parole and good behavior opportunities for felons convicted of nonviolent crimes and favored keeping the current system of having prosecutors decide whether to try certain juveniles as adults in court.

Repeal the California death penalty

Report on Steyer's stance and spending on ballot initiatives:
• California Proposition 62, Repeal of the Death Penalty (2016)
• Steyer Supported; Steyer spent $1.75 million; outcome: Defeated
• California Proposition 62 was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in California as an initiated state statute. It was defeated.
• A "yes" vote supported repealing the death penalty and making life without the possibility of parole the maximum punishment for murder.
• A "no" vote opposed this measure repealing the death penalty.
• On March 13, 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty.
• President Donald Trump responded to Gov. Newsom's executive order, saying, "Defying voters, the Governor of California will halt all death penalty executions of 737 stone cold killers. Friends and families of the always forgotten VICTIMS are not thrilled, and neither am I!"

Backs bill to release accused criminals who can't pay bail