BACKGROUND
MEET ROB
As the People’s Attorney, Attorney General Rob Bonta has hit the ground running in his first few months — seeking justice and securing prosecutions against those who harm California.
From efforts to tackle gun violence to securing criminal sentences, his efforts leading the California Department of Justice have drawn praise from political observers and journalists alike. The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, “Bonta off to a fast start as Attorney General.”
Under his leadership, the Department of Justice has secured arrests and convictions of sex traffickers, gun smugglers, and those who prey upon children.
Bonta believes that law enforcement and first responders are essential to public safety. He is working to build a stronger relationship between our communities and law enforcement and supporting efforts to enhance law enforcement’s ability to respond, investigate, and prosecute serious offenses. Bonta launched an initiative to help cities and counties reduce local backlogs in processing rape kits to more quickly get justice for victims and announced a new effort that increases the Department’s capacity to assist local law enforcement with toxicology needs. Under his leadership, the Department of Justice is also availing resources to support local law enforcement agencies combat organized retail theft and expanding resources to help fight hate crimes.
At Bonta’s direction, the Department is putting more manpower into investigating and prosecuting corporate polluters who violate California law and endanger our health, and the Department is battling multi-national pharmaceutical companies for their role fueling the opioid crisis.
As Attorney General, Bonta is taking on schemes to defraud and cheat law-abiding Californians — wildfire victims, senior citizens, servicemembers and consumers. He is increasing transparency at the Department and expanding access to criminal justice data to enhance public safety.
About Rob
The son of leaders in the farmworkers’ movement, Rob saw firsthand how those without access to power and wealth are too often cheated and taken advantage of by those with both. Rob’s parents taught him that harm done to any one person is a crime against all of us, and he decided to become a public attorney so he could win justice for the people like the farmworker families he knew as a kid.
As a Legislator, he became a national leader on criminal justice issues and passed laws to strengthen consumer and worker protections. Born to a proud Filipina immigrant, he is the first Filipino American to serve as California’s Attorney General.