Proposition 47: Prison Case Study

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Prison populations in the state of California have grown significantly over the years, causing correction facilities to be overcrowded. On February 10, 2014 a Three-Judge-Court ordered the state to reduce the population of inmates in prison by 40,000 within two years. The states response was the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, Proposition 47: a system designed to keep prisoners out of jail and lower the population rates by reducing sentences for criminals who commit certain non-serious and non-violent drug and property crimes.9 Since its enactment 4,454 prisoners have been released from prison16 and an even larger number of offenders have received warnings and citations in lieu of jail sentences, which causes unintended issues and threatens …show more content…
By passing responsibility to the county whom cannot manage the additional cases, prisoners’ end up being released back into society.2 The reclassification of charges keeps many criminals out of jail and perpetuates criminal activity. Individuals are aware of the new law and the states lenience in regards to minor crimes. They make sure to stay within the limits of the new legislation to avoid prison time, which aids criminals in their criminal activities. In addition drug offenders now decline drug court. They are also aware of the states predicament and opt for prison time, since they know they will be released fairly quickly. …show more content…
Instead of arresting criminals and getting them off the streets, officers are dealing with the same offenders over and over again. Giving them warnings or citations instead of jail time.3

Society suffers from an 8% increase of criminal activity5 produced by the reassignment of crimes. Police Chief Shelly Zimmerman states the proposition is “unsafe” and undermines the law, and power, of Judicial Officers.3

Offenders who are released are likely to return to prison because they have no skills or education to aid them in a life outside of crime. Many drug offenders do not get the help that they need because they never enter or complete drug treatment programs

Inmates are still suffering from the overcrowded populations of the prisons. Such conditions have a psychological impact on the prisoners and produce a lack of adequate health care for the prisoners.11

Key Factors of Prison Rates:

• High Recidivism (rate of inmates who return to jail within 3 years)
48.9% women 62.4% Men12
13.8% of prop 47 state prisoners released have already returned to prison13
• Focus on Punishment (War on Drugs)
• Harsh Sentencing (Three Strikes
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