California votes to crack down on crime as ballot measure passes

[Lauren Taylor]

CALIFORNIANS HAVE SPOKEN AND THEY WANT HARSHER PENALTIES FOR CRIME. PROPOSITION 36, A BALLOT MEASURE THAT IMPOSES INCREASED PUNISHMENT FOR CERTAIN DRUG, THEFT AND PROPERTY CRIMES, PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY IN THE DEEP BLUE STATE.

THE NEW MEASURE WILL ROLL BACK PARTS OF 2014’S PROPOSITION 47 LAW, WHICH REDUCED CERTAIN NON-VIOLENT FELONIES TO MISDEMEANORS.

WHILE SOME PROPONENTS OF PROPOSITION 47 SAW THE LAW AS A WIN FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, OTHERS BLAMED IT FOR A RISE IN HOMELESSNESS, CRIME, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

PROPOSITION 47 ALLOWED SHOPLIFTING $950 OR LESS FROM STORES TO BECOME A MISDEMEANOR.

UNDER PROPOSITION 36 – SHOPLIFTING ITEMS WORTH THAT MUCH IS NOW A FELONY IF A PERSON HAS TWO OR MORE PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS FOR CERTAIN THEFT CRIMES. IT WOULD CARRY A PENALTY OF UP TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON.

PROPOSITION 36 ALSO LETS SOME PEOPLE CAUGHT WITH ILLEGAL DRUGS SUCH AS FENTANYL, HEROIN, COCAINE OR METHAMPHETAMINE BE CHARGED WITH A “TREATMENT-MANDATED FELONY” INSTEAD OF A MISDEMEANOR.

THE PASSED BALLOT MEASURE ALSO REQUIRES COURTS TO WARN PEOPLE THAT SELLING OR PROVIDING ILLEGAL DRUGS THAT RESULT IN DEATH COULD LEAD TO A MURDER CHARGE, MAKING IT EASIER TO CONVICT THEM IF THIS HAPPENS.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM OPPOSED THE MEASURE, CALLING IT “TOO HARSH.”

MANY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS OWNERS, SICK AND TIRED OF THE SPATE OF SMASH AND GRAB CRIMES, BACKED THE MEASURE AS WELL AS DEMOCRATIC MAYORS LONDON BREED FROM SAN FRANCISCO AND MATT MAHAN FROM SAN JOSÉ.

ALSO IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, VOTERS ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY NATHAN HOCHMAN IN A WIDE MARGIN OVER INCUMBENT GEORGE GASCON – SEEN BY MANY AS A SOFT-ON-CRIME PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR.

HOCHMAN IS A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR WHO RAN AS AN INDEPENDENT.

“I’M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE YOUR PARTNER AND GOING AFTER CRIMINALS IN THE MOST FAIR, IMPARTIAL AND MOST CONSISTENT WAY WE CAN POSSIBLY DO IT,” Hochman said during his victory speech. “WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET BACK IN THE BUSINESS OF JUSTICE MAKING CRIMES ILLEGAL AGAIN.”