This actually applies to a variety of topics in both 2305 and 2306, including:
- federalism.
- initiatives.
- laboratories of democracy.
- public policy process.
The law converted a variety nonviolent offenses from felonies to misdemeanors and was passed as an initiative presented to voters in California in November 2014. It's considered to be part of a broad effort to scale back the drug war. There have been efforts to decriminalize nonviolent crime in Texas. Negative assessments of the impact of this change may well impact that trend.
For background read these:
- Wikipedia: California Proposition 47 (2014).
- Ballotpedia: California Proposition 47, Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative (2014).
Much like Texas is dealing with the fallout associated with the implementation of the open carry laws, California is doing the same with the consequences of the reduction in punishment associated with these crimes. Little surprise that police are opposed to the initiative, but here's a look at a variety of groups assess this policy change. Collectively, their assessments will give us a hint abut whether other states will change their policing policies as well.
- California Cops Frustrated With 'Catch-And-Release' Crime-Fighting.
- What we learned from California's Prop 47 in 2015.
- Unintended consequences of Prop. 47 pose challenge for criminal justice system.
- A ‘virtual get-out-of-jail-free card’.
- Did California Prop. 47 Cause State Crime Boost?.
