The California State Sheriffs’ Association (CSSA) is membership organization made up of 58 sheriffs and California citizens, established in 1894, to give California sheriffs a unified voice in legislation and political action. ¹

CSSA maintains a Legislative Committee and Political Action Committee that recommend positions and endorsements to its board of directors for ballot initiatives and candidates that support the work of California law enforcement. ^{2 3}

CSSA was one of several law enforcement organizations that opposed the civil forfeiture reforms proposed in California Senate Bill 443, until enough amendments were made to the bill to garner CSSA’s support. ⁴ Prior to this, CSSA authored a letter expressing its opposition to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, which rescinded $1.2 billion from the Asset Forfeiture Program. ⁵

Activities

The California State Sheriffs’ Association maintains a Legislative Committee that reviews legislation relevant to California sheriffs and the criminal justice system. This Committee recommends positions to its board of directors for final approval. ²

In addition, CSSA maintains a Political Action Committee that reviews candidates and ballot measures before recommending positions to its board. The board can choose to support, oppose, or take no position. ³

CSSA has supported initiatives for veterans housing and mental health funding, while opposing initiatives to repeal the death penalty, legalize marijuana, and prohibit ownership of standard-capacity firearm magazines. CSSA has endorsed candidates from both parties, with prominent endorsements for Democrats like U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, then-state Attorney General Kamala Harris, and former Governor Jerry Brown, Jr. ⁶

In 2015, CSSA authored a letter to former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), former Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and the California Congressional delegation expressing its opposition to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, which rescinded $1.2 billion from the Asset Forfeiture Program. ^{5 7}

CSSA was also one of several law enforcement organizations that opposed the civil forfeiture reforms proposed in California Senate Bill 443, until enough amendments were made to the bill to garner CSSA’s support. ⁴

People

Carmen Green is the executive director of both CCSA and the CSSA Foundation. ⁸

Funding

According to tax filings, in 2017 California State Sheriffs’ Association reported contributions of nearly $3.5 million, while the affiliated charitable CSSA Foundation reported contributions of only $147,545. ⁹

CSSA allows California citizens and businesses to buy into its membership on an annual or lifetime basis. ¹⁰ CSSA claims to have thousands of individual members and a handful of business members. ¹ Additionally, CSSA offers corporate memberships at an annual rate of $2,500, which allows corporations to meet with CSSA to present their products, and potentially influence law enforcement matters. ¹¹ CSSA currently claims eighty “Corporate 100 Partners.” ¹²

Board of Directors

CSSA’s board is made up of sheriffs from all over California. The board’s current officers are president David Livingston, 1st vice president David Robinson, 2nd vice president Dean Growdon, secretary Kory Honea, treasurer Darren Thompson, sergeant-at-arms Mike Boudreaux, and immediate past president Bill Brown. The board currently has seven directors and a President’s Council made up of five former board presidents. ¹³

1. “About CSSA.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.calsheriffs.org/about-us/about-cssa-our-mission.html.
2. “Legislative Committee Policy.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.calsheriffs.org/legislativepac/leg-committee-policy.html.
3. “Political Action Policy.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.calsheriffs.org/legislativepac/political-action-policy.html.
4. Sibilla, Nick. “California Governor Signs New Criminal Conviction Requirement For Civil Forfeiture.” Forbes, September 29, 2016. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2016/09/29/california-governor-signs-new-criminal-conviction-requirement-for-civil-forfeiture/#6c7249758f05.
5. “CSSA Positions on Federal Legislation.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.calsheriffs.org/legislativepac/position-on-legislation/federal/125-2012-cssa-positions-on-federal-legislation.html.
6. “List of Endorsements.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.calsheriffs.org/legislativepac/endorsements/list-of-endorsements.html.
7. “Assets Forfeiture Fund Rescission Impact on Equitable Sharing Program.” The Department of Justice, December 21, 2015. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.justice.gov/criminal-afmls/file/801381/download.
8. California State Sheriffs Association Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.
9. California State Sheriffs Association Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part I, Line 8.
10. “Membership.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.calsheriffs.org/membership.html.
11. “Corporate 100 Partners Program.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020.  https://www.calsheriffs.org/corporate-100.html.
12. “Corporate 100 Partners.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.calsheriffs.org/corporate-100/corporate-100-partners.html.
13. “Board of Directors.” California State Sheriffs’ Association, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2020. https://www.calsheriffs.org/about-us/board-of-directors.html.