How Proposition 36 would impact crime and punishment in California

Proposition 36 allows misdemeanor charges for possession of certain drugs and for thefts under $950 if a suspect has two prior drug or theft convictions.

A vote in favor of Proposition 36 means that people convicted of certain drug or theft crimes could face harsher penalties, such as longer prison sentences. In certain cases, people found to be in possession of illegal drugs may be required to complete treatment or serve a prison sentence of up to three years.

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow says Proposition 36 will have an impact in the community.

“Pres. This will have an immediate positive impact as it will give the sheriff’s office and all law enforcement agencies the resources to focus on the repeat offenders in our community who are simply out on the streets today having committed thefts and drug crimes after another,” said Dow.

In 2014, Proposition 47 changed some theft and drug crimes from felonies to felonies.

For example, theft of $950 or less and drug possession generally became felonies.

Dow says Prop. would give 36 judges and prosecutors the freedom to help deal with repeat offenders.

“Fortunately, I think a majority in our community already knows that Prop. 36 is needed to pass Prop. 47, which we adopted in 2014. Four of the five county supervisors – that’s two Republicans, two Democrats – have joined the sheriff and me in endorsing Prop. 36,” Dow said. “And people in our treatment programs say we need to have teeth in the law to make sure people take advantage of the treatment options available to them.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California encourages a “no” vote on Proposition 36.

They say if the bill passes, it will cut funding for trauma recovery services for crime victims and mental health and substance abuse programs.

“Prop. 36 promises that there will be greater access to community-based care,” said Meredith Gallen, ACLU of Southern California, Senior Staff Attorney. “But in fact, the proposal adds zero dollars to that funding and it rolls back Proposition 47, which sets aside millions of dollars a year for programs in our communities that we know work. These programs rehabilitate people so they don’t commit crimes, and we know that people who participate in these types of programs have done just that. lower recidivism rates than people who go to prison.”

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce takes a neutral position on the proposal.

“Proposition 36 addresses this and sets mandatory minimum sentences for dealing in certain drugs. That was a question that our board, the board of the Chamber … was a question about whether that was the right way to handle this issue,” said Jim Dantona, president/CEO of the SLO Chamber of Commerce. “So ultimately the SLO chamber board advised us to be neutral on this proposal.”