Prop. 36 Would Address ‘Unintended Consequences’ of Prop. 47, Organizer Says

The coalition behind Proposition 36 says the initiative, if passed by California voters on Nov. 5, would “fix some of the unintended consequences” of 2014’s voter-approved Proposition 47, which downgraded some theft and drug crimes to misdemeanors. Organizers, led by the California District Attorneys Association, said the initiative would amend Prop. 47 to hold repeat retail theft and drug criminals more accountable while incentivizing treatment over jail time for drug users and sellers.  They also say it would not substantially increase jail or prison populations, a key consideration of those opposed to it.  The coalition is concerned that retailers in the state lost nearly $9 billion in 2022 due to theft. According to a recent report from the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, shoplifting jumped by 29 percent in the same year and by another 39 percent in 2023. ...