Voters across the golden state are weighing in on a street crime measure proponents say will crack down on petty theft and drug crimes – yet critics worry it would start another war on drugs and lead to mass incarceration.
As of 11 p.m. on election night, 70.5% of California voters were in favor of Proposition 36, while 29.5% were against – a difference of nearly 3.3 million votes.
Proposition 36 aims to create a new court process by increasing punishment for certain drug and theft crimes like increased jail time, mostly aimed at repeat offenders. Those convicted of drug possession may also be ordered to get treatment.
Supporters say it will increase public safety while cracking down on theft and drug use – along with helping curb the substance abuse crisis by requiring treatment in some cases.
Critics say the measure will reignite the failed war on drugs, crowd prisons and cost taxpayers millions of dollars with no clear way of treatment.
The cost to taxpayers would likely “range from several tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars each year, which is less than one-half of 1 percent of the state’s total General Fund budget,” according to the state’s Legislative Analyst Office.
If voters approve Prop 36, it would increase the workload for prosecutors and costs to criminal justice costs. It’s also projected to increase the amount of people in jails and prisons , according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Locally, Orange County cities have been grappling with how to handle street crime in recent months.
Stanton, Laguna Beach and Seal Beach are among some cities in support of the measure.
In Santa Ana, city officials voted 4-3 at a city council meeting in September in favor of a resolution of support of Prop. 36.
[Read: Orange County Debates How California Should Address Street Crime]
Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua, who is up for reelection and has worked as a probation officer, said she supports the measure because it will require those refusing to get help into treatment. She has also received substantial campaign funds from the local police union.
“Jail is not the answer. However, with Prop. 36 they’ll be given an opportunity to go to a program or jail,” she said at a September council meeting. “This is about making our city a better place to live for the quality of life for our children and our families.”
OC Supervisor and former Santa Ana Mayor said the measure would lead to “the failed war on drugs.”
“Unfortunately this proposition is a false promise and not a fix,” Sarmiento said during an October supervisors meeting. “Defaulting to a system where there’s a lack of critical thought … is going to lead to bad consequences.”
Gigi Gradillas is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at gigi.gradillas@gmail.com or on Twitter @gigigradillas.
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