Yolo County Questions Prop. 47 Sentencing:  Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig has expressed disagreement with two Yolo County judges regarding the handling of low-level drug offenses under Prop. 47, adopted by CA voters last November.   Sarah Dowling of the Daily Democrat reports that the Reisig believes that drug offenders are less likely to pursue drug treatment without incarceration or the threat of incarceration.  He has proposed developing new sentencing guidelines for drug offenses, and Chief Probation Officer Brent Cardall agrees.  He is suggesting reforms to probation protocols that would help prevent drug offenders from avoiding treatment.

Gov. Brown To Parole Sick, Elderly Convicts:  In a cost-cutting effort, Governor Jerry Brown has proposed the parole of  hundreds of convicts who are chronically sick, mentally impaired, and over the age of 60.  Thomas D. Elias of the Napa Valley Register reports that this idea was first introduced in 2002 by Ray Procunier, the former California director of corrections under Ronald Reagan, who pointed out that Reagan cut the prison population by one-third with no increase in crime.  Since violent crimes are typically committed by young offenders in their teens and 20s, and the costs of treating sick and/or elderly inmates is extremely expensive, many consider their release to be a sensible solution to ease prison overcrowding.

Burglaries Linked to Prop. 47:  A rash of burglaries in La Cañada, California has residents wondering whether or not it is the direct result of Prop. 47, a law passed in November that released thousands of inmates from state prisoners.  Anita S. Brenner of the La Cañada Valley Sun reports that burglaries have been on the rise statewide, likely due to drug offenders, who often commit thefts and burglaries in order to feed their habit, receiving only a citation for their crimes.  State corrections officials insist that long-term studies must be conducted before the "true effect" of Prop. 47 is seen. 

CA Loosens Jessica's Law:  Jessica's Law, or Prop. 83, which forbids sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park, is becoming less restrictive in California.  Kate Mather of the LA Times reports that the "blanket restrictions" outlined in the law will no longer be imposed, and cases will be assessed more individually.  The law, as it stands now, will still apply to high-risk sex offenders and offenders whose crimes involved children under the age of 14, who will be forbidden from living within a half-mile of a school or park.  This loosening of the law comes after a CA Supreme Court decision holding that the restrictions could not be applied in San Diego County due to a lack of residential properties 2,000 feet from schools and parks.