PROP
47 TO DEFELONIZE LOW-LEVEL DRUG POSSESSION AND OTHER MINOR, NONVIOLENT CRIMES
PASSES IN CALIFORNIA
SACRAMENTO–Proposition
47, the ballot measure to defelonize minor drug possession and other low-level
nonviolent crimes passed easily
tonight, with the San Francisco Chronice calling the race within an hour of the polls closing, despite dismal voter turnout in the state. The initiative will treat certain
crimes as simple misdemeanors, reducing the future prison population and
authorizing resentencing for those currently incarcerated for these offenses if
they prove they are no longer a threat to public safety. The exemption is a
limited one, and will not apply to registered sex offenders or anyone with prior
convictions for child molestation, rape or murder. Savings are projected to be
in the hundreds of millions of dollars and will be redirected to K-12 programs,
victim services and mental health and drug treatment.
“This
is a win for everyone in California,” said Los Angeles Deputy Police
Chief Stephen Downing (Ret.).
“We’ll save millions keeping nonviolent drug offenders out of state prison, and
those resources will be redirected toward public education, victim services, and
mental health treatment programs that actually address the problems of
addiction.”
For media interviews, please contact
Darby Beck
darby.beck@leap.cc
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