We’re Making Crime Illegal Again in California

California leads the nation in fentanyl deaths, homelessness and retail theft thanks to Proposition 47.

For those who haven’t personally witnessed daily brazen theft in mom and pop convenience stores, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, grocery stores and high end retail stores, or noticed how many items are now under lock and key, Prop. 47 reduced a host of serious felonies to misdemeanors, including drug crimes, date rape, and all thefts under $950, even for repeat offenders who steal every day. Proposition 47 was passed by tragically misinformed voters in 2014, and flagrantly titled “The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act” by then Attorney General Kamala Harris.

Prop. 47 also decriminalized drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor, removed law enforcement’s ability to make an arrest in most circumstances, as well as removing judges’ ability to order drug rehabilitation programs rather than incarceration.

Voters throughout the country want tougher criminal penalties, and in California are about to get them. In fact, California voters are so exhausted from the state’s escalating violent crime and business-killing retail theft, as well as the dismissive response from Democrats, we overwhelmingly just passed Proposition 36, which will make significant reforms to California drug and theft laws and flip Prop. 47 on its head. This is big.

Notably, Gov. Gavin Newsom and most legislative Democrats oppose tougher criminal penalties, and have unbridled disregard for crime victims.

California’s ongoing crime crisis is everywhere – no one is spared, except high ranking politicians and Hollywood elite who have security. Crime and rampant retail theft throughout California cities has caused thousands of small business and store closures. Escalating fentanyl overdoses are killing young Californians at a stunning rate.

Voters wanted reforms and California’s District Attorneys and thousands of Proposition 36 volunteers delivered. Yolo County DA Jeff Reisig was a key player in getting Prop. 36 across the line:

Yet, Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, from California, refused to endorse Prop. 36, or even say if she voted for it.

“California’s disastrous 10-year experiment with the radical, anti-prosecution law known as Prop 47 now sees a chance to be reformed- with parts repealed this election day, and Kamala Harris has refused to say whether she will vote for or against it,” Richie Greenberg wrote at the Globe.

Fortunately, Kamala wasn’t elected President, and Proposition 36 passed overwhelmingly, making crime illegal again in California.

The fundamental problem with Proposition 47 was serial retail theft, or “petty theft with priors,” which could no longer be cumulatively charged and prosecuted, as we emphasized earlier, even for repeat offenders who steal every day.

That all changes on Day 1 with passage of The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act. The measure will hold repeat offenders accountable for the safety of our communities, rather than putting them back on the streets.

As the Globe has reported and according to experts involved in the initiative, the day the initiative passes, a thief caught a third time, with any prior theft charges on his adult record, can be charged with a felony. And if he is caught stealing a fourth time, he is eligible for prison.

The discretion will remain with the District Attorneys and Judges, but the law will be restored to allow increased penalties with increased thefts.

Congratulations to everyone.