Proposal to Reform California’s Prop. 47 Gets Enough Signatures to Appear on Ballot

Californians could get a chance to amend Proposition 47—a law passed by voters in 2015 that lessened some drug and theft crimes from felonies to misdemeanors—with more than 900,000 signatures collected to place the issue on the November ballot. Voters will decide if penalties should be increased for some of those crimes. “We must prioritize the safety of our communities. This proposed ballot measure does just that, fixing prior legislation that has harmed public safety … It is time for common sense reforms that holds people accountable for their criminal behavior and ensures justice for our community members,” said Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin, a law enforcement representative for the initiative, in an April 18 press release announcing the recent milestone....