11/02/2024
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐
๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ช๐ฆ๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ค๐ฆ๐ณ๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ง๐ง๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐บ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง๐ง๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด
By Elizabeth Berger, November 1, 2024 11:01 am
Since its passage in 2014, Proposition 47 has been touted as a revolutionary step in Californiaโs criminal justice reform. The measure reclassified certain felonies to misdemeanors to decrease incarceration rates and redirect the cost savings into rehabilitation programs. Proponents argued that rehabilitation programs would be more effective than prison for reducing recidivism and improving public safety. However, the reality is far from the success story many hoped for.
At first glance, some of the statistics surrounding Prop. 47 programs might seem promising, painting a picture of progress. For example, the Board of State and Community Corrections boasted a 60% reduction in homelessness and a 50% reduction in unemployment. However, a closer look reveals that these numbers reflect only a small subset of participants, not the larger population affected by the law. This makes the claims of broad success misleading.
Over 21,000 people took part in some type of Prop. 47 program. About one-quarter aimed to find housing during their time in the program, but half of them dropped out before completion, leaving a final group of 2,168. This final 2,168 is the group that experienced a 60% reduction in homelessness, and it represents only 10% of the original cohort. A similar percentage (28%) pursued employment as a goal, but more than two-thirds dropped out of the program, while 1,871 completed it. The final group of 1,871 experienced a 50% decrease in unemployment, but they only account for 8.6% of the full cohort. In the end, these impressive-sounding reductions in homelessness and unemployment are based on a tiny fraction of the larger cohort, and likely do not hold true when applied to the majority.
Further, advocates often claim that Prop. 47 rehabilitation programs reduce crime and recidivism. However, thereโs little solid evidence to support this. Most of the studies backing these claims rely on weak research designs, like comparing people before and after the program without seeing how they compare to others who didnโt participate. Without a comparison group, itโs impossible to know if any changes in the participants can be attributed to the program itself, because thereโs nothing to compare the participantsโ progress against.
In reality, lowering the severity of penalties for certain offenses has emboldened many repeat offenders, whose recidivism rates have increased since Prop. 47 was enacted. This has also contributed to the rise in certain crimes like auto theft, car break-ins, and the theft of car accessories like catalytic converters. While seemingly minor, these property crimes arenโt just inconveniences. They have real, tangible impacts that can cost hundreds of dollars and disrupt daily lifeโpreventing people from getting to work, school, or important appointments, potentially leading to lost wages or job loss.
Fortunately, there is an opportunity to correct the course with Proposition 36, which will appear on Californiaโs November 5 ballot. If passed, it would strengthen penalties for habitual offenders, allowing an offender convicted of a third petty theft to be charged with a felony and sentenced up to three years in state prison. Prop. 36 also introduces the option of a โtreatment-mandated felonyโ for drug-related offenses, where individuals would have the opportunity to complete a court-mandated treatment program in lieu of a jail sentence.
Overall, Prop. 36 strikes a more balanced approach between ensuring accountability while still offering a pathway for rehabilitation where appropriate. As voters, we must recognize that reform without accountability is not true progress.
Handcuffs and Wooden Gavel.(Photo: Proxima Studio/Shuttertock) The Unintended Consequences of Proposition 47 Lowering the severity of penalties for certain offenses has emboldened many repeat offenders By Elizabeth Berger, November 1, 2024 11:01 am 01 Nov 2024 11:01 am Since its passage in 2014, Pro...
