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Thread: California reduces penalty for lower-level crimes

  1. #1

    California reduces penalty for lower-level crimes

    http://www.kcra.com/politics/voters-...on-47/29225292

    Prop 47 will allow re-sentencing for about 10,000 inmates currently in prison

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —California voters on Tuesday approved a ballot initiative that will reduce penalties for low-level drug and property crimes to save hundreds of millions of dollars in prison costs.

    Under Proposition 47, shoplifting, forgery, fraud, petty theft, and possession of small amounts of drugs including cocaine and heroin are among the offenses that will be treated as misdemeanors rather than felonies.

    With about 2.6 million ballots counted, the measure had 58 percent support.

    Passage in the nation's most populous state "sends a powerful message nationally, demonstrating that voters are not just ready but eager to reduce prison populations in ways that can enhance public safety," Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the national Drug Policy Alliance, said in a statement.

    Major law enforcement groups opposed the measure, saying reductions go too far because the crimes include possession of date rape drugs and stealing firearms. They said reducing penalties is dangerous at a time when the state still is adjusting to another change, prison realignment, that often results in shorter sentences and early releases to cope with crowding.

    Jennifer Jacobs, spokeswoman for the No on 47 campaign, said opponents were outspent 17-to-1 mainly by national groups supporting lower criminal penalties for drug use. Major backers included Public Storage founder B. Wayne Hughes, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, wealthy civil rights attorney Molly Munger and a fund linked to New York billionaire George Soros.

    The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office projects that reducing sentences through Proposition 47 could affect about 40,000 offenders a year. An estimated 4,000 currently go to state prison, while the rest serve their time at the county level.

    The initiative also would allow an estimated 10,000 offenders to petition judges for reduced sentences because they already are serving felony sentences for covered offenses.

    Since misdemeanors carry a maximum penalty of less than a year in custody, the measure is projected to save hundreds of millions of dollars. The savings will be diverted to school programs, victims' services, and mental health and drug treatment.

    Advocates, led by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, said diverting incarceration money to treatment programs will help break a long cycle of crime. They said felony convictions make it more difficult to get jobs and housing assistance, increasing the pressure on offenders to commit more crimes.

    "We must devote our resources to keeping violent criminals off the streets, not cycling addicts in and out of jail," Gascon said in a statement after the measure passed.
    More at link.



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  3. #2

  4. #3
    Very good California!

  5. #4
    look at their Billion dollar budget for water.....,maybe the tax farm needs more cattle to graze

  6. #5
    I'm curious. They say resentencing... but would this retroactively change the conviction from a felony to a misdemeanor? That's very important for voting, firearms, etc.
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  7. #6
    GOV. JERRY BROWN TO MEXICAN ILLEGALS: 'YOU'RE ALL WELCOME IN CALIFORNIA'

    http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...-Welcome-in-CA
    Pfizer Macht Frei!

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  8. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by CaptainAmerica View Post
    look at their Billion dollar budget for water.....,maybe the tax farm needs more cattle to graze
    Interesting that Arizona is criticizing California water. Of the "Ten Biggest American Cities That Are Running Out Of Water" Arizona has two- same as California. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pf_article_111186.html Phoenix (#3) imports their water from the Colorado River.

    3. Phoenix

    Major Water Supply: Colorado River Basin
    Population (U.S. rank): 1,593,659 (5th)
    Population Growth Rate: 21.2% since 2000
    Average annual rainfall: 8.3 in.

    Like many of the other western cities on this list, Phoenix is extremely dependent on water imported from the Colorado River- which is also LA's main source. This is because nearly half of the water the city's residents use comes from this significant source. As the Colorado River Basin enters the eleventh year of its drought, the city's reliance on the river may soon become a serious problem. If the drought continues, water deliveries to Arizona could potentially be cut back. To keep up a sufficient water supply, Phoenix is adopting an aggressive campaign to recycle water, replenish groundwater and try to dissuade over-consumption. Time will tell if it these measures will be enough.
    In an article from 2008:

    Meanwhile, some wealthier countries are just beginning to understand the depth of their own crises. Many parts of the United States are experiencing severe water shortages. Pressure is mounting on the governors in the Great Lakes region to open up access to the lakes to the burgeoning mega-cities around the basin. In 2007, Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake, dropped to its lowest level in 80 years. Florida is in trouble, trying to keep its fast-spreading lawns and golf courses green. California has a 20-year supply of freshwater left. New Mexico has only 10. And Arizona is out: It now imports all of its drinking water. Experts assert that this is more than a cyclical "drought": Major parts of the United States are running out of water. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency warns that if current water use continues unchecked, 36 states will suffer water shortages within the next five years.
    http://prospect.org/article/where-has-all-water-gone

    As for those cows, you are probably eating them. Along with our tomatoes and garlic and avocados and other produce. If the California cows go away, you will be complaining about the price of meat soaring.

  9. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by TheCount View Post
    I'm curious. They say resentencing... but would this retroactively change the conviction from a felony to a misdemeanor? That's very important for voting, firearms, etc.
    Not sure how far back, but yes, it is retroactive meaning hundreds of prisoners will be eligible for release once they are resentenced.

    https://cavotes.org/vote/election/20...proposition-47

    Prop. 47 would reduce the penalty for most nonviolent wobblers and felonies to misdemeanors, unless the defendant has prior convictions for violent and serious crimes. Prop. 47 would permit resentencing for anyone currently serving a prison sentence for any of the offenses reclassified in Prop. 47 as misdemeanors, and certain offenders who have already completed a sentence for one of those felonies may apply to the court to have their convictions changed to misdemeanors.

    State savings from Prop. 47 would go to a newly created fund, “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund,” for truancy and drop-out prevention programs in schools, victims’ services, and mental health and drug treatment services designed to keep individuals out of prison and jail.
    It will probably tie up the courts for a while to try to get all the resentensing completed.
    Last edited by Zippyjuan; 11-05-2014 at 09:06 PM.



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