By now most readers of this blog know about Proposition 47, "The Safe Neighborhoods
and Schools Act," adopted by California voters in November 2014.
The Act downgraded felony thefts valued at
$950 or less and drug possession to misdemeanors, no matter how many times an offender
committed these crimes. This essentially eliminated the
punishment for the most commonly committed offenses.
If you follow the news or our Foundation, you know that crime is up in California, and that county sheriffs and District Attorneys are attributing much of this to Proposition 47. Among them, LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell has been quite clear about this. The fact that violent crime has actually increased more than property crime, helps confirm what honest people in law enforcement have always known: most criminals do not specialize, and today's thief or drug runner may well have committed a robbery, rape or murder yesterday. Defining an offender by his most recent conviction tells us little about what other crimes he has committed or what future crimes he is willing to commit.
If you follow the news or our Foundation, you know that crime is up in California, and that county sheriffs and District Attorneys are attributing much of this to Proposition 47. Among them, LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell has been quite clear about this. The fact that violent crime has actually increased more than property crime, helps confirm what honest people in law enforcement have always known: most criminals do not specialize, and today's thief or drug runner may well have committed a robbery, rape or murder yesterday. Defining an offender by his most recent conviction tells us little about what other crimes he has committed or what future crimes he is willing to commit.
Studies on the impact of Proposition 47 have downplayed or ignored
reports from law enforcement and highlighted data showing that
both prison and jail populations, along with bookings and
convictions are lower today than before Proposition 47 was
adopted. A recent example comes from the San Francisco-based
Public Policy Institute which is available at this link:
http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=1187
How, you may wonder, can so many apparently rational people, including scholars, fail to recognize the obvious result of weakening or eliminating entirely the consequences for the most commonly committed crimes. Part of the answer is that many millions of dollars have been spent on propaganda, misdirection and phony studies to persuade the public that punishment is not necessary to reduce criminal behavior.
Where does that money come from? About eighteen months ago LA Times reporter Paige St. John showed us where it comes from: http://graphics.latimes.com/prop-47-finance/
If you run your mouse across the chart it shows how much money changed hands.
How, you may wonder, can so many apparently rational people, including scholars, fail to recognize the obvious result of weakening or eliminating entirely the consequences for the most commonly committed crimes. Part of the answer is that many millions of dollars have been spent on propaganda, misdirection and phony studies to persuade the public that punishment is not necessary to reduce criminal behavior.
Where does that money come from? About eighteen months ago LA Times reporter Paige St. John showed us where it comes from: http://graphics.latimes.com/prop-47-finance/
If you run your mouse across the chart it shows how much money changed hands.
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