Thee way it current exists:

California already decriminalized "hard" drug possession. You can currently be arrested for meth/heroin/coke as many as five times without ever seeing the inside of a prison cell, and that's okay.

Under the state prison realignment from a few years ago many crimes that used to be felonies are now prosecuted as misdemeanors and parolees are supervised by county probation officers. That has resulted in a spike in auto thefts and other thefts, but what's done is done. Anyone given a term of three years or less in state prison doesn't go to prison and instead serves county jail time. County jails are on 1/3 times right now. A year is four months. Three years is one one. Ect.

Due to federal court rulings the state has been forced to release just about every non-violent offender from prison. When determining if someone is violent they only look at the most recent charged. so a burglar with prior rapes, got released.

Three strikes was changed so the third strike only triggers the 26 to life term if the third felony is a violent felony. Those in prison under three strikes can be released early if the third strike was not a violent crime. See above.


Now prop 47 supporters have decided all that isn't enough and we need to coddle criminals even more. Prop 47 would reduce several current felonies to misdemeanors including Grand theft, Theft of a firearm, Commercial burglary, possession of stolen property and identity theft. It would allow those previously convicted to apply for reduced sentencing resulting in the release of 10,000 current prisoners.

What has happened and happening to this Nation?

Ive spent the last couple days sitting on the couch watching TV recovering from surgery. Seeing lots of yes on 47 advertising on FOX11.  The ads make it sound like its a tough on crime initiative.

47 is a joke.

Unless I see some overwhelming reason to vote yes, I always vote "no" on just about everything.

sorry, double tap

A Nixle alert I got from our Sheriff on this...

Advisory: Vote No on Proposition 47

Hi Irwin_Fletcher,

In what seems to be a cynical ploy to deceive voters, the proponents of Proposition 47 conjured up the name “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act” for a collection of bad ideas that will produce the opposite of what that title portends.

If you are asking yourself how letting up to 10,000 felons out of prison and decreasing penalties for crimes like gun theft, possession of date rape drugs, and identity theft will make you safer and protect your children, you are in good company.

We can all agree that at some level, criminals must face meaningful consequences for violating the law. Prop 47 turns that idea on its head. The penalties for serious crimes will be reduced and felons already in prison for their transgressions will be entitled to resentencing to county jail or outright release. And you don’t have to take our word for it – the proponents have boasted that as many as 10,000 prisoners could be released if Prop 47 passes.

Existing law recognizes the severity of stealing a gun. Prop 47, however, would turn gun theft into a misdemeanor. Stealing firearms can only make a community less safe, but the “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act” decreases the penalty for that crime to a mere slap on the wrist.

And speaking of guns, by converting felonies to misdemeanors, criminals who would otherwise be prohibited from possessing a firearm would be allowed to own guns. Misdemeanors generally do not carry the same gun ownership restrictions that felonies do, so the passage of Prop 47 will lead to the increased arming of convicted criminals.

Prop 47 also severely decreases the penalty for drug possession. Keep in mind we are not talking about possession of marijuana (which, under existing law, is punishable only as an infraction and carries no jail time whatsoever), but rather hardcore drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and GHB (a drug often used to perpetrate date rape). That’s right, a predator who possesses date rape drugs will only be criminally liable for a misdemeanor under Prop 47.

The measure presents the potential to cripple California’s fragile, yet recovering economy. By reducing the penalty for commercial burglary to a straight misdemeanor, Prop 47 declares open season on retail businesses. Additionally, this misguided measure reduces the available sanction for the theft of crops, livestock, and other agricultural crime. California rises and falls on the strength of our agricultural economy and Prop 47 invites theft targeting our farmers and ranchers.

Also worth noting is the get-out-of-jail free card given to those who commit forgery or write bad checks. In this time of increased technology and near-constant data breaches, we should not be putting out the welcome mat for those criminals who would cheat, scam, and steal using our stolen identities.

As you can see, there are a myriad of reasons to oppose Prop 47, and they are bolstered by the likelihood that the supposed financial savings trumpeted by the supporters will not materialize. What we know for certain however, is that as thousands of felons leave state prison, this measure will create even more pressure on our aged and overcrowded jails, putting another unfunded mandate on front-line law enforcement officers who will be forced to interact with the criminals released by Prop 47.

Proponents will tell you that all this measure does is give first-time offenders and petty criminals a second chance while saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars. The truth is, those types of offenders rarely end up in jails or prison. By law, first time drug offenders cannot be sent to jail or prison and most counties have diversion and probation programs that allow judges and prosecutors to appropriately sanction minor crime by rookie criminals. And the savings generated by Prop 47 are illusory; a cheap, political trick designed to con voters into thinking schools and students will be showered with all of the money saved by releasing felons into our neighborhoods.

In the end, it all boils down to the fact that Prop 47 will result in more crime, new victims, and less safety. Safe Neighborhoods and Schools? Not if Prop 47 passes.

As your Sheriff, I ask that you please vote NO on November 4, 2014

For information about this news release, contact Sheriff Adam Christianson at (209) 525-7216.

47 is not going to pass

Hope not. Haven't seen a single advertisement against it though.

Two areas highlighted in red are "interesting".

Liberals reducing severity of gun crimes and allowing more convicted criminals to own and possess firearms sounds like they are using this as a setup for something else on down the road.
Like firearms licensing, or adding more disqualifying misdemeanors.

I was reading up on all the Propositions and found this about Prop 47.  I offer this without editing or editorializing.

California Proposition 47, the Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative, is on the November 4, 2014 ballot in California as an initiated state statute.

The initiative, if it is approved by the state's voters, would reduce the classification of most "nonserious and nonviolent property and drug crimes" from a felony to a misdemeanor. Specifically, the initiative would:[1][2]

Mandate misdemeanors instead of felonies for “non-serious, nonviolent crimes," unless the defendant has prior convictions for murder, rape, certain sex offenses or certain gun crimes. A list of crimes that would be affected by the penalty reduction are listed below.

Permit re-sentencing for anyone currently serving a prison sentence for any of the offenses that the initiative reduces to misdemeanors. About 10,000 inmates would be eligible for resentencing, according to Lenore Anderson of Californians for Safety and Justice.[3]

Require a “thorough review” of criminal history and risk assessment of any individuals before re-sentencing to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the public.

Create a Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund. The fund would receive appropriations based on savings accrued by the state during the fiscal year, as compared to the previous fiscal year, due to the initiative’s implementation. Estimates range from $150 million to $250 million per year.

Distribute funds from the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund as follows: 25 percent to the Department of Education, 10 percent to the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board and 65 percent to the Board of State and Community Correction.

The measure would require misdemeanor sentencing instead of felony for the following crimes:[1][2]

Shoplifting, where the value of property stolen does not exceed $950
Grand theft, where the value of the stolen property does not exceed $950
Receiving stolen property, where the value of the property does not exceed $950
Forgery, where the value of forged check, bond or bill does not exceed $950
Fraud, where the value of the fraudulent check, draft or order does not exceed $950
Writing a bad check, where the value of the check does not exceed $950
Personal use of most illegal drugs

The initiative is being pushed by George Gascón, San Francisco District Attorney, and William Lansdowne, former San Diego Police Chief.[4]

Supporters of the initiative refer to it as "The Safe Neighborhood and Schools Act".

Let the system break.


The stupidity of politicians who think that this will solve anything will do only one thing, hasten the speed at which normal people get fed up.   Normal people will either leave or they will start shooting.

AB109 was a gift to crooks.   Nothing worse could have been done to reduce the quality of life for citizens of the state.    Everything that isnt bolted down is being stolen by idiots who know that it is a great time to be a crook.    Get caught and get out on an ankle monitor only to stay in the game.

I no longer vote.    I am done.   Gonna sit back in my jaded cynical hermit ways and watch the fall of Rome.    Doubt I will live long enough to enjoy retirement at this rate due to stroking out or having a heart attack before 40.

Sounds reasonable until you read the fine print and see it redefines shoplifting to include commercial burglary.

Lol...  this state is screwed so bad if this goes into effect.

Basically telling crooks "there it is, go and get it".

Used to be felony levels was 450 dollars in value.    They might as well make it 10,000 dollars while also making minimum wage 30 dollars an hour.

Fox news just said it looks like its going to pass.

Not sure how to vote on this one.

I'm all for giving drug offenders a pass (should be decriminalized IMHO), but I'm not OK with giving thieves one.

Just answer me this: Will it save the state, and therefore ME some money?

ETA: Just read about the creation of a special "fund". Voting no.

You are always asked to vote on the propositions as they are written.  It isn't ever about voting for just "this part", it's the total package.  For me, there is often a provision in a proposition that is might be unrelated to the main part of the bill, or is otherwise triggers a no vote by me.  

When the proposition does something that is normal conduct of business but proposes to float a bond to fund it, that triggers an almost automatic No vote from me.

It appears to have passed. Hold onto your wallets, we are in for a wild ride.

If you haven't gotten around to applying for your CCW permit you should ASAP

Thieves and drug offenders are often one and the same.    Screw them both.

We are fucked.  

I cannot believe this is going on. Beside myself.

Yup.

Unless they make property crimes a shootable offense, they just created the most profitable job market that California has ever seen.

Quality of life for average Californian just went down substantially.  

Welcome to the suck you idiots.   You deserve it.

I know, next year let's make minimum wage 25 dollars an hour as well because that will fix things...

When do the provisions of this Proposition go into effect?  Specifically, these provisions:



They also created a $150M - $250M/year "slush fund" to be distributed to schools, parks, etc.  I call it a slush fund because there do not seem to be any provisions on HOW the money is to be appropriated, WHERE it will go, WHO will get it, WHAT projects will be funded, WHEN the money will first become available, etc.

Prop 47 is effective immediately. Today. Not jan 1 as is customary

Just when I thought this state couldn't suck anymore or get any dumber.  Bam!  The tards running this place fool enough voters to pass this crap.   It's gonna look even more like Tijuana very soon.

Well at least the economy has imporved enough that the 10,000 violent offenders that prop 47 releases all have waiting jobs.

There 190 convicted inmates qualify for release in Placer county jail alone. Only 38 will be seen in court this week, but once resentenced, are released within 2-3 hours. We are seeing the same results all over Nor Cal.

I'm seeing a few "Prop 47 Ammo Sales" locally.

Bullshit

I believe the comment was made with "tongue firmly planted in cheek" - sarchasm, cynicism.