An initiative qualified for the ballot last Tuesday that would roll back parts of the controversial Prop 47, approved in 2014, to address jail overcrowding. Back then California was dealing with dangerously overcrowded prisons and jails with no idea how to reduce it. Then the California State Government came up with Proposition 47, a law that would reduce numerous felony-level crimes to misdemeanors instead (misdemeanors typically have lighter punishments and less jail time).
The Proposition made it to the ballot and was approved by voters. Shortly thereafter, county jail and state prison populations began to decrease significantly. However, as an unintended side-effect of the new rules, it would appear that some thieves have been emboldened at the lack of repercussions. Some individuals started committing more crimes believing that they might face no punishment at all.
It’s thought that the recent spate of smash and grab thefts and organized raids are a result of Proposition 47 and the zero-bail initiative. Less severe penalties and an all-but-guaranteed O.R. release when (and if) the individual is arrested appears to have proven too tantalizing for some.
As republicans are trying to repeal Prop 47, democrats have introduced legislation that would address republican concerns without completely repealing Prop 47. However, republicans are pulling for a full-repeal, which caused democrats to amend their changes. Due to the changes, should Prop 47 be repealed, the targeted changes in the democrats’ bills would also be repealed. Essentially, if Prop 47 is repealed it will be easier for law enforcement to put people in jail. They won’t also need the reforms democrats have put forward to address republicans’ concerns. Repealing Prop 47 and simultaneously passing reforms to make theft and drug charges much easier to prosecute would, democrats are saying, result in a massive influx of people into jails and prisons again.
As time goes on and legislators continue to wheel and deal, we will see how things shape up for voting this November.
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