California voters delivered a mixed message in the 2024 election, rejecting a progressive prosecutor and approving a measure that toughens penalties for theft and drug possession.
Certain 2024 election results in California took many by surprise. The Golden State's residents, for example, rejected another term for progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón , backed by billionaire George Soros. They also overwhelmingly voted — at more than 70% — in favor of Proposition 36 , the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, which seeks to undo portions of Proposition 47 from 2014 by increasing penalties for some crimes.
The proposition, which took effect Dec. 18, will allow felony charges to be filed against those possessing certain drugs and those who commit thefts under $950. Additionally, people accused of those crimes could spend more time in jail. In other words, the ballot measure aims to crack down on certain minor felonies that would not have been labeled misdemeanors and gone unpunished — or lightly punished — under Proposition 47. When Prop 47 passed in 2014, it downgraded most thefts from felonies to misdemeanors if the amount stolen was under $950, 'unless the defendant had prior convictions of murder, rape, certain sex offenses, or certain gun crimes.' Progressives criticized the measure as racist. The ACLU of Northern California described Prop 47 in a press release as 'part of a broader conservative strategy in California and across the nation to roll back criminal justice reforms aimed at interrupting the cycle of mass incarceration of Black and Brown people.' Others believe the new bill will bring positive change to the state, especially in areas that have been grappling with violent crime for years. 'We're making theft a felony again.' Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said Prop 36 is 'definitely going to make things better' in California. The proposition will help mitigate three big issues in California, he said, including drugs, homelessness and thef
California Election Proposition 36 George Gascón Crime Criminal Justice
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