California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 36, which increases penalties for some theft and drug possession crimes.
With vote count exceeding 40%, more than 5 million voters said yes to Proposition 36, accounting for 70% of the ballots cast.
With the passage of Prop. 36, California replaced Prop. 47, which voters passed in 2014 to classify some theft and drug-related crimes as misdemeanors and address prison overcrowding. Some of the important provisions will be rescinded.
Here’s what Prop 36 does
Turning some misdemeanors into felonies: Under Proposition 47, property crimes such as shoplifting and robbery involving items valued at less than $950 would be classified as misdemeanors. All drug possession, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, is also considered a misdemeanor. But Prop. 36 would reverse some of those penalty reductions, turning misdemeanors into felonies, especially if you committed similar crimes in the past. This also means that if convicted, he faces up to three years in county jail or state prison. Longer sentences: Under Prop. 36, felony sentences could be increased by up to three years if a group of three or more people commit a crime together, such as the flash mob robberies that have affected retailers since the pandemic. there is. Under Prop. 36, people convicted of selling hard drugs could receive longer sentences depending on the amount they sold. Unlike Proposition 47, the new ballot measure aims to require people to serve time in prison.
Some Democratic leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is running for governor, have publicly opposed the move out of concern that it would further harm Black and brown communities. Others are working with police unions and businesses to support Prop. 36. group.
