Week 7

2/15/2016

In 2014 California voters decided to approve a measure to reduce lower offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. This comes after a long history of criminal justice reform in California that aims to reduce the prison population.

Respond to the questions below after reviewing the video and the ballot measure specifics.

How can Prop 47 be helpful or harmful to California residents?
How will this ballot measure impact your community or others?
What role do you think prisons play in promoting public safety? How does this ballot measure support American values? Explain briefly.

Requirements for BLOG POSTS

You must write 250 words each post (due Thursday @ Midnight), Responses to two other students 50 words each (due Sunday @ midnight)
Students must post during the week the blog is assigned or it will not be graded.

79 Comments

Antonio Villa

2/16/2016 10:09:13 pm

Since the people convicted of non-violent crimes are also residents, the helpfulness of this proposition begins with letting them out of the correctional facilities and back to their families or loved ones. The residents of California could also benefit by having more members in the workforce contributing to the state and national production (gdp), if they are fortunate enough to obtain work due to their records. Most can serve as positive models to their communities sharing their experiences and deterring youth from following similar actions. The discouraging part, and many see as a harmful outcome is if some cannot cope and resort to continuing patterns of unlawful action or influencing others in the community to do the same. It is conflicting because the actions that land these people in the correctional system are the conditions in the environment they live in. Theft, drug usage and sales and other nonviolent offenses are consequences of necessity and lack of opportunity. The less privileged must turn to theft, drugs and other activities to deal with their surrounding issues or to make ends meet for themselves and loved ones, and the incarnation does not do much to rehabilitate behavior, but it actually cripples their ability to contribute further because in the workforce, employers fear those with a negative history. This ballot measure will remind the residents of California that we are not defined by our mistakes but our contributions.. because everyone makes mistakes; but not everyone gets caught. This measure will also set precedent and inspire more propositions to rehabilitate and truly assist those who are not producing to their fullest potential in a constructive way to their communities, which will make a better California. Prisons and their illusion of safety for the rest of the population is a misleading example of how the government should control everything and those walls are the consequence for those who physically oppose. This ballot tears those walls down for those who are put into a correctional system that corrects nothing. A system that rips families apart and puts lives in danger. This ballot values struggle and opportunity, and the residents of California feel that.. From the democrats to the republicans and anywhere in between.

Melissa Nevarez

2/17/2016 11:59:54 am

I agree that this ballot measure will automatically show that the inmates are just regular people who've done drastic mistakes. The prisons and jails themselves are what leads them in the right path so that they don't do the mistakes again. So with the prop 47 it can also be useful to giving second chances. I'm a bit mutual about it.

Trevor Davies

2/21/2016 05:07:00 pm

I see things similarly, a lot of good point were made about how people can who were previously incarcerated can teach the youth about how to make smart decisions growing up. Help guide them away from because first hand experience will better tell the story. In the end California needs to set a better example that we do not treat our people poorly. That all criminals are not all one of the same, some may just have made the wrong decision that day. A person like that isn't someone that needs to be imprisoned for one little mistake.

Elena Saldivar

2/17/2016 11:47:12 am

Will prop 47 help or harm California residents? To be honest in my opinions it will all have to depend on the person and their political views and background on the idea of prop 47 being passed. There are going to be residents who say yes and some who say no to this proposition. If this proposition goes into effect yes in will have a huge impact in different communities, yes we could see a rise in population in some cities because most of these people who are in prison who committed small crimes will be released and more room in the prison. There is also that many who will be released will get to reconnect with there families of have one. But then there are people who don’t want prop 47 to pass because many feel that if they get released they many go back to there old habits of crime then they will see a increase in crime. That is only the cause if they are not able find employment because they have a criminal history and they have no other option to survive. I think that they have a huge role in promoting public safety because they house people who commit murder, rape, and other harsh criminal activities, these are the type of people that they want to see put away. The way that it could support American values is that it is giving inmates a second chance to reinvent themselves and they have been released.

Melissa Nevarez

2/17/2016 11:55:19 am

I agree that people thing once the prop 47 passes the inmates who get release will go back to their old ways and crime will automatically increase. Once an inmate is released some continue doing crimes and haven't gotten caught again. Prop 47 obviously is a good excuse for the inmates to think they can probably get away with crimes now.

Eskarletl Ruiz

2/17/2016 08:56:11 pm

Prop 47 is suppose to be about getting second chances, but honestly there is no real second chance once you get out of jail. People treat you differntly, and you can't function like society wants you to because you can't own a house of work in a high paying job. This will just lead people back into their old habits of working underground jobs like drug dealing, which is probably what they got in for, but not by choice. It would be as a last resort to keep alive. The criminal justice system is a big continuous loop, that needs to change.

Yunlin Xie

2/20/2016 09:40:14 pm

I think what you said “we could see a rise in population in some cities because most of these people who are in prison who committed small crimes will be released and more room in the prison.” is worth thinking. Personally, I am in favor of prop 47, but I didn’t consider fully. We should realize that if we want to get the benefits(reduce government’s expense and increase the room in prisons), we should also prepare to take the risks. People who get out of prisons need to find jobs, and whether they will continue their ”old jobs”. These are all what we need to concern.

Ha Mac

2/21/2016 09:23:01 pm

I totally agree with you that whether prop 47 has good or bad effect on California residents depend on each individual’s view and how prop 47 is passed. To me, I see more advantages than disadvantages and I encourage this proposition. I think it is a good way to save money and spend that money on education, health and so on.

Mosima Sona

2/21/2016 10:46:38 pm

I can agree with how the passing of Prop 47 or not is dependent on a person's personal and political beliefs. And I also agree that by passing the prop, that it'll give inmates the chance to reinvent and reinstall themselves back into society. I feel as if there will always be a few who will take advantage of the situation in order to benefit their own selfish interests instead of actually doing productive things.

Melissa Nevarez

2/17/2016 11:50:27 am

Proposition 47 reduces penalties for some crimes. Some of the inmates were waiting trial for a variety of crimes they did. It's harmful to California residents because California is spending too much money keeping low level offenders behind bars for long periods of time. But it's also helpful because it allows the inmates to have a second chance and helps reduce overcrowding. It impacts the community by creating new safe neighborhoods and schools for fund. Most of the money was for the mental health and drug programs to keep the inmates from going back to jail. There was a funding to provide services for crime victims and supports public school students who are on the risk of dropping out. Prisoners even being locked up is $50,000 a year in California. With that money Prop 47 uses it on schools and educational programs. The ballot measure classifies non-serious and non-violent crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. It permits re-sentencing for the inmates currently serving a prison sentence. 10,000 inmates are re-sentencing. The estimates range from $150 million to $250 million per year. The crimes that would be effected are shoplifting, grand theft, receiving stolen property, forgery, fraud, writing a bad check, and any illegal drugs. The person who supported the measure was George Gascon who is the San Francisco district attorney and William Lansdowne who is the former San Diego police chief. The Prop 47 has changed all prisons/jails and help give second chances to inmates who have done nonviolent crimes.

Eskarletl Ruiz

2/17/2016 08:51:49 pm

It really is just a waste of money for the government to keep imprisoning people. Especially for non violent crimes like possession of drugs. More money is spent of prisons than schools because there are more prisoners than students. This is because the government put people in jails for doing small little things. It's their way of keeping who they believe are the "bad people" out and the "good people" in society.

Lawrence Erispe

2/18/2016 10:00:56 pm

I feel that it is good and bad at the same time because for those non-violent crimes, people should not get a felony. But, the fact that stealing guns and possession of date rape drugs will turn into misdemeanors from felonies is very wrong. That is something that I strongly disagree with because you are now allowing harmful things to happen in our community.

Trevor Davies

2/21/2016 05:22:51 pm

California has a great deal to gain with prop 47 passing. The saving of tax dollars that are right now being spend on keeping these people behind bars for small crimes. That money could be better allocated in helping California grow as a state instead of wasting it all way. We have learned the hard way on how to improve our system but it is not where being close to perfect yet.

Chrissy Bishop

2/21/2016 10:03:27 pm

I not only agree with you but the people below as well that it really is a waste of money to keep them in there for such small crimes. I don't understand why they should be in there at all. I'm sure most of them are kids and it's their first time in any jail situation. Just like everyone else said we could be spending this money on bother better things.

Kevin Manago

2/21/2016 10:39:45 pm

I agree with what you think. Prop 47 is helpful for many people because it gives them a second chance. What your comment also made me think about was money. I never really thought about the cost of keeping these people in prison, and how much money would be saved if a lot of them were released because their crime wasn't deemed that bad anymore.

Mosima Sona

2/21/2016 10:56:38 pm

It is a lot more beneficial to redirect the money going towards low level imprisonment to better things and programs such as education and the new neighborhoods that are spoken of. And it can be a waste of time and money to put people in jail for such low level crimes such as the possession of certain drugs. But it can also be said that because this person is getting their felony lowered to a misdemeanor, they can just go back to doing the same things they've been doing previously.

Adriana Serna

2/17/2016 12:14:31 pm

On one hand, Prop 47 can be helpful to California residents because Prop 47 allowed for state savings to grow by millions of dollars since jail populations fell. This savings goes toward Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund which Prop 47 creates. This can help many schools and victim compensation.. So having more money go to our schools is a huge help since schools have seen budget cuts everywhere which I felt while going to school. Prop 47 helps create those normally seen felony crimes become misdemeanors which is more in line with what the crime is and it goes more towards rehabilitation which the people who commit the misdemeanor need and will help keep them from committing another similar offense. Families will also get to see their loved ones again and those labeled “criminals” will get a chance at a normal life outside because they will be able to receive food stamps among other things that can help them move forward and not go back to stealing so they can survive. But on the other hand, it can be harmful to California residents because some people that commit misdemeanors like shoplifting, grand theft and stolen property could possibly do it again and risk California residents becoming victims. Something to think about though is that if there was no Prop 47 and those people that commit those types of crimes were serving a harsher sentence, when they are released they still have the chance of doing it again so I guess it goes both ways and does not really change, only the timeline. LAPD chief Bernard Parks did state that “while drug-related arrests fell, theft and residential burglaries rose.” People that are only charged for a misdemeanor for possession of drugs are committing these crimes of burglaries and thefts to pay for the drugs which means Prop 47 is causing a spike in more crimes of this nature, hurting California residents. So Prop 47 has its ups and downs but that just goes because humans are not perfect and they do make mistakes.
Like mentioned above I think Prop 47 impacts our community as well as others both positively and negatively. It lets families be reunited with their loved ones again and the proposition gives schools and crime victims money that was saved by reducing jail population. And it can focus on getting people proper rehabilitation which could greatly help those people from committing the same crimes again. It can impact us and others negatively by seeing a rise in theft and residential burglaries and we can become victims of these crimes.
I think prisons promote public safety by containing criminals that have committed serious crimes like murder, rape, other sex offenses and gun crimes. It keeps them off our streets and from committing another serious offense like those again. (Although we still see many of these crimes being committed everyday). Prop 47 supports American Values because it gives people a chance, who have done no physical harm to a person, to live like a normal citizen again without being held as a serious criminal. These people have a second chance to learn from their mistakes and to do hard work, have a good paying job and support their families. Instead of being labeled a felon and having no chance of being able to support themselves or families because of that title they can actually go on to live life with meaning and value again knowing are not looked down at by others.

Kay Nassman

2/18/2016 05:55:46 pm

I enjoy the way you formed your opinion and answered the last question. I wasn't sure how to answer it myself. Wells said. After reading what you had to say, I believe that Prop 47 is truly an act of opening our eyes to American Values. I think that giving them a second chance is an awesome opportunity, with the hopes that those given a second chance, are able to refocus, and do things the right way the second time around!

Brandon Lingerfelt

2/18/2016 09:26:54 pm

It's interesting to think about all the specifics of each crime, because I’m sure there was a reason behind people committing a crime obviously. From small crimes to larger ones i think it will be just a matter of a second chance for some and another opportunity for others, which is hard to judge whether the good outweighs the bad.

Lawrence Erispe

2/18/2016 10:04:48 pm

I like the quote that you put in your blog stating “while drug-related arrests fell, theft and residential burglaries rose.” This shows that prop 47 is not perfect. it is good and bad at the same time. While drug arrests fell, now there is a rise in theft and burglary basically allowing people to do these things without harsh consequences. Prop 47 in a way is inhibiting these type of actions from people who do not care about the law and for those trying to game the system.

Elena Saldivar

2/19/2016 01:28:58 pm

It is a big question that comes up when dealing with prop 47, it is hard to determine in which direction the person will go in some will right and some one will choose wrong , it is all up to the person if he or she wants to change.

Eskarletl Ruiz

2/17/2016 08:48:19 pm

I believe the Prop 47 is not harmful at all, but it could harm the mindset of some people, because there are people out there who don't want to associate with formerly imprisoned people. They will think they'll go back to the life of crime and disturb their "innocent" lives. However, the sad reality is that people who were previously imprisoned will always be marked for life. It'll be on their record, which will prevent them from buying a house or getting a job. They won't be able to become a proper member of society. People will find out and look' treat them differently. There is no real escape. And with some community colleges accepting former prisoners in their schools, but giving them separate classes, it reminds me of the "separate but equal" nonsense that wasn't really all that equal for anyone. It's hard to imagine that we've come so far with not discriminating, but we actually haven't changed all that much. People will be impacted based off of their image, because they don't want to associate with "bad people". The prisons promote public safety with their rehab programs, but most of them don't really do anything. They just want to make it look like they care, and talk to them like they do have a chance at reentering society, but that is not the case. Some people will not care, especially if it's for a nonviolent crime, but others will judge the heck out of former prisoners and not want anything to do with them.

Kay Nassman

2/18/2016 05:52:34 pm

I agree and very similarly wrote about how these once imprisoned people will always have trouble finding job, and housing, all the basics due to their past. I would hope that one time in jail is one too many times, and that with the resources provided to them (treatment centers, etc) that they would utilize them and do as much as they can to get back into the real world. It just sucks that along with that people of the community, and just the world we live in today, people will always have the criminal perception of these people

Yunlin Xie

2/20/2016 10:03:57 pm

I also think these are big issues. We want to give them a second chance to begin their new life and to change themselves. However, if they finally find out that they are not able to do anything in this society, they must be desperate. It is very likely they will choose to do their “old jobs” in order to make a living. I think if they behave very well and do not do anything wrong for more than two years, it is okay to wipe off their record.

Brandon Lingerfelt

2/18/2016 09:27:11 pm

I agree with you that people will probably always keep them separate from people who have never been to prison, also interesting to take into account whether a imprisoned person's family views that person as the same or different; but I suppose it would depend on the crime committed.

Caitlin Hoover

2/21/2016 02:23:54 pm

I agree. All people take the time to hear are the words "arrested", "prison", or "criminal" and they stop listening. They just claim those words as labels and stick them on people without taking the time to find out what actually happened or the severity of the crime. Even those proven to have been falsely accused still lose their jobs, let alone the ones who were falsely imprisoned.

Noel Alejandre

2/21/2016 08:28:37 pm

Its sad, how people have to judge others based on what they have done. A single mistake someone did in their past, does not define who they are as persons. I still think they all have a good chance to re integrate them selves in society because most of the people won't even know their past. Its up to them if they want to change their lives or not.

Ha Mac

2/21/2016 09:27:22 pm

I think prop 47 might be harmful if some prisoners do not recognize their chance and do not want to start their life all over again. They might be free from jail and continue committing crime outside, which is very dangerous. However, I agree with you that some people are so mean that they do not want prioners to come back to normal life. I think prop 47 should be followed with some housing and jobs offer.

Keyan Mehrabi link

2/21/2016 09:49:15 pm

It is sad that people who are released will have that on their record. Even if they want to get a simple delivery driver job, they will have to go through a background check and most likely be rejected because they had a minor issue with the law.

Kevin Manago

2/21/2016 10:41:11 pm

I fully agree with the first thing you said. It will give people this mindset that the released are troublemakers who will disturb the peace that they have. Its outside their norm, and they would rather stay in that bubble of normalcy that they have. Instead of opening their minds, these people who used to be in prisons are going to have a hard time finding jobs, or even maybe making friends.

Antonio Villa

2/23/2016 12:05:08 pm

You were right to deny your initial claim that was no harm that could be done. First mentioned was the mindset of some people, particularly those directly impacted from being imprisoned and then released with the scarlet "F". Society has made things difficult for many communities only allowing them the opportunity to lead a life in crime. Letting them out of prison does not guarantee them a better life or any opportunity at all, especially since there record prevents them from easily finding work or a place to live.

Kaysie Nassman

2/18/2016 05:47:57 pm

I think with Prop 47 can be both a negative and a positive on California residents. Of course the initial thought of Prop 47, is why release them? If studied from a different angle, you begin to see what the thought process was behind this.
The selling point is the money factor as mentioned in the videos provided. I feel as if the money we save from releasing nonviolent, non serious crime committing people serving jail time, would barely help schools, and treatment centers. I think it wasn't as much as California could stretch or anticipated, but I do think that making these people an example of “second chances” and offering things like drug abuse programs, mental health help, and other programs to help keep them out of jail is awesome! It may have not stretched very far however I think its a great start, and that California is onto something ,and even though the savings range from $150 billion to 250 billion, eventually I think it will begin to impact the community in a more positive way IF we can keep people from returning to jail for committing these crimes. I think that prisons made a wise choice to lower minor crimes, and specify it to crimes that were non violent. I think that, yes its easy to say that these people are “criminals” BUT, with non violent crimes I think that people need to open their mind expand on the idea of second chances and realize that these people have the opportunity to do better the second time around, and have places like treatment centers to help get them back on their feet. Considering that once being in jail, that its hard to find a job, get housing, and all the basic things.

Adriana Serna

2/20/2016 10:18:29 pm

It is true, the money they are saving is too low to really have an impact on our communities and schools. We wouldn't even notice anything once the money gets spread throughout the state. But like you mentioned, the main idea really is giving second chances to people that made mistakes but didn't actually harm anyone. I have a friend who's mom could have been seriously affected by the three strikes law and now this law allows her mom to be able to stay home and enjoy being with her family and new granddaughter which means the world to my friend and I'm sure to hundreds of families around the state.

Caitlin Hoover

2/21/2016 02:31:34 pm

I have to agree with you. While may people will be wary of letting all those prisoners go, worried that it would just increase the crime rates, if doing so allows the saved money to keep even just one person from going to prison or ending up back in prison, then the program would be worth it.

Antonio Villa

2/23/2016 12:12:24 pm

It is true that the only true way this could be productive in saving the money by releasing these folks is if we ensure that they are given the proper opportunity to reintegrate into our community by obtaining a place to live and a job to earn. This would be one part of helping rehabilitation, but the priority should also be in prevention for our youth. The reason so many folks are behind bars are the lack of opportunity and resource that drove them to do the illegal acts in a response to survive. It's a stress on every end, but this proposition is only a step in many that need to be taken to rehabilitate our family and friends behind bars and to prevent any more in the same path and creating a more productive community and society.

Chrissy Bishop

2/18/2016 06:12:54 pm

Just like anything else there is a good side and a bad side. I don’t think Prop 47 is that harmful at all If anything I believe it helps with overcrowding. Just as Dr.Crain said today in class how is it a good idea to keep 3 huge men in one small cell? Also the crimes that they are speaking about aren’t that bad. Stealing and having small amounts of drugs all non violent crimes. If the crimes were murder or drug trafficking then that would be something to concerned about. I have a few friends who have gone to jail for stealing small things once they got out they became a good citizen. My buddy now pays for everything or asks to borrow something I also think he grew a bit in there. Point is when he was given a second chance, his family didn’t trust him for a while but slowly he gained their trust with handling their credit cards or having guests over. That’s one thing I think this prop would help with giving others a second chance as I’m sure they learned of their lesson the first time I know my buddy did. They just need time to adjust and have others learn to trust them again. I hate that the majority of people think once one person goes to jail or gets caught they will forever be this criminal in their minds when that is not the case they are people who got caught up in something.

Chelsea Payaqui

2/18/2016 07:09:06 pm

Prop 47 would help residents since those who have committed only petty crimes will have a more justified sentencing time in my opinion. I don't think they should serve time for it, unless it's a repeated offense or they have a history of crime. I think it'd be harmful to the residents since the crimes have been bumped down to misdemeanors, I think the crime rate would shoot up since jail is out of the picture. I think people believe that getting out of jail they would have a second chance in life, but with the way our society criminalizes others, it seems unlikely. We see the word 'felon' and assume it's for murder when in reality it was for drug possession or something. By passing prop 47, we would be able to spend the money otherwise spent on rehabilitation services, on education programs. Many would benefit through creating better services, since schools in less fortunate areas are titled as "dropout factories." Maybe it would cause a shift in the cycle. Prisons promote public safety since it's an area to keep away criminals from the general public. America is all about working towards the "american dream" so by changing some felonies to misdemeanors we are giving them a second chance to work towards something.

Nadia Villanueva

2/21/2016 09:50:15 pm

I agree that the society criminalizes others after they go out from jail, specially when they have to find a job but yeah, with prop 47 I hope that the money will be spent for rehabilitation services, on education programs, everything they might need to get help not go back to prison.

Van Truong

2/21/2016 10:45:28 pm

this gave me another perspective on what prop 47 could do, and how it could not be beneficial to the community, i think that you made some great points to where if people start believing that certain crimes will not be punished as other it could lead to more crime rates in the community

Trevor Davies

2/18/2016 08:04:40 pm

How can Prop 47 be helpful or harmful to California residents?
The biggest and most obvious benefit that California see's with prop 47 is that the lower prison population is save the state millions of dollars. The over crowed prisons are becoming inhospitable for the residents inside. Prop 47 has allowed people with simple crimes be released so that they can get back out into the real world where they can help the economy, pay taxes and really begin to feel like an individual again.

*How will this ballot measure impact your community or others?
The impact of this around my community has a little to no impact. The reason for that is because there (as far as I know) no out reach programs in place to help people who had been previously incarcerated to get back on to their feet. But I have seen other places that are teaching people again on how to be free again.

* What role do you think prisons play in promoting public safety? How does this ballot measure support American values? Explain briefly.
With such a great amount of over capacity in prisons, there is not a lot of care for individuals in the system. People can view them in very negative ways when really they it could have been just the wrong place at the wrong time. People with pedi drug related crimes don't need to be serving years in prison for that or 25 to life if it was a third strike offense. This measure, I believe, does support the American values because we are giving people trust that they can get back out there. This shouldn't be a place were we need to be scared of do anything wrong we will be thrown in jail. Instead of paying more on each prisoner we can finally focus more money on the students growing up.

Adriana Serna

2/20/2016 10:45:37 pm

The prison system in the state of California is terrible. Just yesterday they showed on the news a special report about how San Quentin is over populated and needed extra beds, converting areas into makeshift jail cells. They are even using the mental ward of the prison to housing many. Inmates are sharing these small cramped cells. San Quentin houses the most inmates on death row which is an outstanding number but this is just an example of the overcrowded problem in California. With this Prop we can hopefully reduce the problem in jails that house non-violent inmates who just made bad mistakes.

Keyan Mehrabi link

2/21/2016 09:43:38 pm

To continue what you were saying, I also think that they pick and choose who they throw into jails to show an example that this is what could happen. I know of 2 people who did the exact same crime but 1 of them got jail time while the other one got probation. It needs more consistency.

Ha Mac

2/18/2016 08:50:02 pm

In my opinion, the idea of using prop 47 has both pros and cons, but whether it bring more advantages or more disadvantages depends on the awareness of the prisoners and how the proposition is applied. For example, if people who convicted non-violent crimes want to come back to life and stop committing crimes, prop 47 would be the opportunity for them to restart their life. However, if they do not want to change and continue committing crime, this would do harm to California resident. This ballot measure seems to have a good impact to our community. It is a way to save money and reduce the number of prisoners. That amount of money could be used to provide service mental health, drug programs of young people and on educational programs. The money is also used for recovery service for victims. I think prisons are good for public safety because they keep prisoners and do not let them go out to commit to crime. Moreover, people would hesitate when they think about committing crimes because they do not want to go to jail. Prop 47 helps people to have a chance to start all over again and become good people. This measure may make prisoner touched because they know that they are forgiven and welcomed to fit in society again. However, I think this measure should be followed with some services that support inexpensive housing and jobs. It is difficult for prisoners to start over again because people hesitate to hire a person who has records in the past. Therefore, providing jobs and housing is essentials.

Elena Saldivar

2/19/2016 01:14:55 pm

Yes I agree one hundred percent. It is always hard to look at this situation and see if it will harm or improve the California community. There are so many pros and cons to prop 47 because it will all depend on if the prisoner wants to change or not.

Justine Calso

2/21/2016 07:52:26 pm

I like how you named pros and cons. What really matters is how those released from prison treat the situation, like you said. Those who want to start fresh and turn their life around have the ability to, it'll just be hard depending on how society sees and treats them. Those who feel that it's okay to commit crime again, could and feel like they could get away with it.

Matthew Mullen

2/18/2016 08:50:28 pm

The passing of Prop 47 could be helpful to California residences in very clear, tangible ways. The most relevant and important way that the passing the prop would help California residents is that residents who ‘ve had family members in jail because of petty theft, writing bad checks, receiving stolen property or drug possession would be recharged with misdemeanors from the felony charge they had and would be reintegrated into society. Though 250 million dollars is not considered a large or overly significant amount of money in terms of government spending, that money would be put into the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund and would be directly be helping the youth of many communities throughout California. Lock up in California can cost up to 50 thousand dollars a year and Prop 47 would be saving an estimated amount of 250 million dollars if prop 47 was passed. The passing of the prop could also be harmful to residents of California because hundreds of former “felons” would be released and their effect on society is unknown and unquantifiable which scares many Californian residents. The fear of possible danger is the only truly negative aspect of passing Prop 47 that would directly affect U.S. Residents. This Prop will impact the community in a very positive way I believe because people would be getting their lives back. Liberty to people who absolutely deserve it will be granted and I think that is the most significant aspect of this prop. It is also very significant that 250 million dollars of funds will be going back to the youth. This will develop more programs in my community as well as others to get children off the streets. I think prisons play a large role in public safety, but I believe that role could be improved, especially with the passing of Prop 47. This prop supports American values because Americans value freedom most importantly. The government wants us to value safety the most, to instill fear in us for control, but I do believe the vast majority of America values freedom the most and Prop 47 has gave California rightful citizens back into society.

Chelsea Payaqui

2/21/2016 09:55:10 pm

I agree with you that when prop 47 passes, it will have a positive impact for some families. I think it's ridiculous to be inprisoned and separated from family over minor offenses. But I also think that reintergrating back into society will be difficult due to the stigma of the word felon. Even though they aren't considered felons anymore I would think that those who are released would face unneeded judgement from others.

Andrew Luft

2/18/2016 09:01:16 pm

The passing of Proposition 47 will for the most part be helpful and beneficial to the residents of California. With the dropping of non-violent felonies, most of which are drug charges, it will put a lot of people back on the streets that probably don’t deserve to be in prison, but also will put some people who probably do. Prop 47 is a productive next step since the passing of Proposition 36 in California back in 2001. Prop 36 was an attempt at shifting the status quo from the punitive criminalization of drug use to a more humanitarian approach of public health treatment. With the change offered by Prop 36 Californian tax payers saved a significant amount of money they would otherwise be pumping into the severely overcrowded prison system, which could then be used for other societally beneficial purposes. Proposition 47 will probably have a similar effect when used in conjunction with Proposition 36 and hopefully our societal drug use will decrease, leading to a more productive society. It is just sad that it has taken us over 50 years of repeating the same futile process of zero tolerance and harsh punishment of a medically recognized sickness to make these changes; changes which are probably due more to the simple fact that our prison system is so overcrowded that this is the last option. This will impact our community simply by having a less punitive mentality, which hopefully continues to evolve, and also by throwing a large number of institutionalized individuals back into a society that has probably become so foreign to them that they will have difficulty reintegrating successfully for some time. This is almost entirely due to the mentality of our prison system. Rather than rehabilitating our “criminals,” which don’t get me wrong some deserve to be in prison, the system demoralizes and strips them down to a more primal state of “survival first,” which is quite the opposite. However, there are outlets in prison to avoid this dehumanization. But overall Proposition 47 promotes the freedom that this country claims to be proud of and in the long run should lead to a positive change that has been a long time coming.

Matthew Mullen

2/21/2016 02:41:34 am

I think you address an important point of how the mentality of the prisoners gets manipulated for the worst. It does seem like demoralization and fear is kind of what this country is being based on in the present time. Especially criminals who would be let free by prop 47 should not be victimized by the prison mentality.

Brandon Lingerfelt

2/18/2016 09:26:06 pm

Prop 47 can be both helpful and hurtful to California citizens. To begin with the ways in which it is helpful to California; the first aspect that is helpful is bringing possible families back together. Helping one another out instead of the possible single parents left to aid their children because of another parent being jailed for prolonged time. This difficult situation for such parents can be resolved possibly if some prisoners are to be released. Other cases could be things such as reducing tax payers’ flow of funds away from prisons and into places where it could be more useful. A video above showed a girl to vote yes on 47 because of the possibility that money could then be put to school education instead. Though it seems more likely the first problem would be to use the excess money to help the people rehabilitate into society, then after time use it in other areas of society; because throwing them into our society which has greatly changed over time could be overwhelming without some form of aid or rehabilitation. On to the harmful effects, these could range from more petty crime rates to even homicide rates increase. The drastic change from a prison lifestyle to a struggling working class lifestyle could be stressful. That can be scary to many citizens since it could cause more harm than good with instability of other people’s lifestyles; but it’s only a possible occurrence. It will affect all communities with this influx of prisoners released. Whether the good outweigh the bad, it is hard to judge the future. Relationships could reform, homicides could occur, or nothing could occur. I believe the role of prisons in general is to scare some people into not doing bad things. No benefits i could steal can outweigh the price of prison, though in the short term I could gain a lot by possibly robbing someone the long run seems like the worst outcome. Which I feel a fair society should implement to some degree. With the morals of an American I also feel that prison must be a very anti American society. Since imprisonment is basically an exodus of rights, and certain freedoms; prop 47 will pass because it feels strong that an option for a second chance can be fair. To give a second chance to someone who has had freedom, then has had those freedoms taken away those people likely miss those freedoms; so giving them a second change could change their mentality on thief, or robbery after an experience such as prison.

Chelsea Payaqui

2/21/2016 10:01:24 pm

I like how you talk about how difficult it could be to have to adjust from the prison lifestyle to an ordinary citizens lifestyle. I agree that it's a pretty drastic change and to flip a switch in ourselves is tough. I feel like saying that the money that would've gone into prisons would go towards safe neighborhoods is just a way to get the proposition passed, when in reality we should spend some of the money on those who get released. It reminds me of how prisoners who are wrongfully committed, go into prison, and get released, are compensated with money far less worthy of they time they've wrongfully served.

Chrissy Bishop

2/21/2016 10:06:17 pm

This is kind of what I spoke about top. Bringing people back home to their families so they can have another chance at life. Sure they might of stolen their neighbors television but that can be mended again and re bought even by the offender. People can be trusted again. It just takes time.

Justine Calso

2/18/2016 09:54:46 pm

Prop 47 is helpful to California residents because it saves taxpayers money. Instead of holding low level offenders for months or years, tax dollars could be used to better the infrastructure of our state. Bridges, roads and buildings could be repaired. It also keeps families together instead of tearing them apart due to a misdemeanor, such as drug possession for example.
This proposition will help prevent prisons from being over populated as well. Citizens and law enforcement won’t feel stressed out about the overcrowding of prisons. We also won’t have to worry about building new prisons. It impacts communities because though it is saving money, it could be potentially dangerous. Those released from prisons could go back to committing offenses. On the other hand, it could also be a clean slate for individuals. They may want to start over, get a job, volunteer around the community and work with the youth to ensure future generations don’t follow the same path. Money could be spent on education services and school systems.
Prisons promote public safety by holding those who have committed serious offenses. Child molesters, those who were in possession of child pornography, rapists and murderers are some examples. One American value is the idea of a second chance. If someone makes a mistake, we give them another shot to do better. Someone could have committed petty theft when they were young, realized what they did was stupid while being incarcerated, then released and given a chance to make things right.

Nadia Villanueva

2/21/2016 10:03:11 pm

I agree with you that it could be a clean slate for people so they can start from zero, but it might be difficult since society criminalizes others after they go out from jail. Anyways I also agree with you that tax dollars could be used to better the infrastructure of the state I just hope this prop to succeed.

Lawrence Erispe

2/18/2016 09:57:03 pm

Prop 47 is a good thing because it would change the way certain crimes are handled that would otherwise be considered a felony changing their three strike law for those individuals. Now that this law is in place, those who are in prison serving those felony charges may have their time be reduced.
Now crimes such as property crimes, such as theft and forgery, guns that have been stolen, date rape drugs, and drug possession where the drug was only for personal use and not for sale. What I do not agree with is the fact that it is not a felony to steal guns and have possession of date rape drugs. I think this can be harmful for our community because people will now be able to steal guns without strict punishment. That I do not understand because if someone is stealing a gun, the only use for the gun is to kill someone. If it is for protection then you would buy one and if you cannot because you are underage or cannot due to having a criminal history, you should not have one. What i really do not agree with is that you can be in possession of a date rape drug and not get a felony. It is obvious that the person in possession is going to harm someone, whether to kidnap someone and or rape someone. The only intent with a date rape drug is to inflict harm onto someone so I strongly believe that is stupid and harmful to our community. Instead of preventing a rapist, you are now allowing them to have chances.
Ideally, prisons promote public safety by putting all the bad people who are harmful to a society. With that being said, there a lot of people in there for something that they should not be going to prison for but if you think about it, drugs ruin a society in general. There is always violence when there are drugs. So, I say do not sell drugs. If you do not do bad things then you won’t be going to prison. Though the demographics of the prison are skewed to consist of mostly minorities, they would not be in there if they did not commit a crime. People who commit crimes go to prison(most of the time). To say that it is unfair is true because the police are specifically targeting minorities, but to say “white people commit more crimes and not get caught, I should be able to commit crimes and not be targeted because I am a minority, this is unjust” is ludicrous because you should not be committing crimes in the first place.
I think this ballot measure supports American values to a certain extent when it comes to fairness and second chances. I guess that these certain crimes are non-violent and should be treated that way throughout the legal system. .

Justine Calso

2/21/2016 07:58:20 pm

I didn't know that stealing guns and having date rape drugs wouldn't count as a felony. If this prop were to pass, there should be clear guidelines as to what and what is not considered a misdemeanor. Citizens should definitely take part in this say. Businesses should also promise to treat those who were formerly incarcerated fairly.

Nadia Villanueva

2/18/2016 10:12:51 pm

Well personally I think that Prop 47 it is both, helpful and harmful, why? because no decision, law, or propositionl is always 100% good or bad. Everything has two sides, but we have to analyze each one and decide which one is convenient for the society. I dont think this is a mistake, and like they said in the video, I believe on second chances. People, and in this case women deserves to have a second chance and have a new life with their families. In every jail the way they treat woman is different but I don't think it is a nice experience to end up in jail, but Im sure they learn a lesson to never want to come back again. The third video explained that prop 47 also creates safer neighborhoods and schools, and the money will go to mental health and drug programs to keep them from going back to jail, isn't that good? If they are scare that people who was realized from prison is going to be a danger, they also should be aware of those who have money, good lawyers, that also committed the same or worst crimes and they never got caught or went to jail. I know it is unlikely that those systems that are in charge of jails and felonies are not going to analyze and deepen each case of each woman but they should. It will take more money to follow people after being released from prison so they can make sure they will be safe for the society. I honestly don't think that the crimes will increase, but the conditions of living have to change in order to help people. Sometimes people commit a crime because of he conditions were they live. Prisons don't correct people, it is a system that controls people and separate families. Therapies, rehabs, and help is what people that commit crimes or harm other need, not being locked up as an object.

Andrew Luft

2/21/2016 12:59:22 pm

I agree with you that everything has two sides, especially in politics. There is what the politicians want us to think, and then the bad motive hidden underneath the good one. I believe that altogether Prop 47 is a step in the right direction; however the question is why has this change taken place? Is it for the betterment of our society? Or is it simply a smokescreen for the rich to get richer? Just some food for thought.

Noel Alejandre

2/21/2016 08:32:58 pm

I think that this prop 47 should be for Man too. They only mentioned that is was for woman, but what about guys that deserve a second break too. All people that have made minor crimes should be let out of jail and given a second chance. This opens up more room for the state to save money and not have a lot of people inside jail.

Kevin Manago

2/18/2016 10:17:19 pm

The implementation of Prop 47 in itself was a good idea. But, attempting to carry it out in today's society did not work so well. I believe that it ended up being both good and bad for the citizens. One good thing that came out of that is that arrest rates decreased. Since less people were going to jail, there were more rooms in prisons for rehabilitative things. On the other hand, rate of burglaries probably rose too, because if they get caught, they could probably get away with just a misdemeanor, and not a felony. I believe as a community, this impacts things like the selling of drugs, and also the people who are currently in prison. Selling of drugs would be done more because instead of a felony, its just a misdemeanor. Now I believe going to jail just for selling drugs may or may not be a reason to go to jail, it would just depend on the level that you sold, if you were high up there, then jail is reasonable, but if you aren't then a misdemeanor makes sense. Either way, for that, it gets a little controversial. For people who were already in prison, after Prop 47, if their felonies were just misdemeanors, they'll be released. The problem with this is there's the stigma of someone who went to jail. Getting things done would be harder without family support. If I just got out of jail, getting a job would be hard, doing anything by myself would be even harder than before. I believe prisons are built to keep the "bad people" in, and to protect the citizens. But, with our messed up justice system, its not just murderers or serial killers that go in there, but other people who are far from it. It pits together a majority of people who get in trouble as a "felon" and they are all seen as that.

Andrew Luft

2/21/2016 02:54:52 pm

I agree that Proposition 47 is a good idea itself and also that its timing is a bit sketchy. Personally I think that this change should have taken place a long time ago based upon the fact that the “War on Drugs” did absolutely nothing beneficial to our criminal justice system.

josue monroy

2/18/2016 11:04:53 pm

Prop 47 is helpful and beneficial to California residents in many ways.
It cost an average of $50 thousand dollars a year to keep a person incarcerated. That’s a lot of money wasted to keep a non-violent offender locked up.
By Reducing non violent felony crimes down to misdemeanors the prison system and the government will be saving thousands of dollars a year, and by Giving people another chance to get their act together and helping them stay out of the system by placing them in rehab programs in the long run the saving and benefits will be greater. We will have more money to invest in keeping young people from falling into the system and ruining their future because we all know that once you fall victim to the prison system is not easy to get out. I say this from personal experiences. I have a few family members who are still trapped in the system and I witness them struggle trying to stay out but life isn’t easy for a felon out in the streets, no company wants to hire you, no one wants to help you, and when you get no help and don’t know what to do, chances are you’re just going to give up and go back to your old ways which will only land you in one place, and that is back to prison.
This ballot allows more money to be invested in our community rather than prisons. Money that will have a huge impact not only now but also for the future generations to come. we need to help people before they land in jail for minor offenses in particular the youth, the ones who are more vulnerable to commit a crime not thinking much about the consequences.

Arienna Jones

2/18/2016 11:08:38 pm

I can definitely understand how there might be some controversy over this proposition. I think some people get scared by the idea of incarcerated individuals being released back into the public, to live normal lives. But I understand that Prop 47 only wants to help citizens. It will allow those with minor misdemeanors, non-violent crimes, to live normal, healthy lives in our communities, and will allow us to benefit from their service. It will also help improve California’s prison system, by allowing the proper numbers and ratios to be put into place, creating a healthier atmosphere for the improvement of the people who really do need to be there. Prisons really do play a key role in the public safety of the citizens! They protect us from the truly dangerous people, but sometimes that can go overboard, and people who don’t deserve to be there, or to be there for that long, end up locked away. This ballot will help balance that, making sure that incarcerated citizens get just treatment.

Charbel Mawad

2/20/2016 01:04:37 am

I also believe that we need prisons to keep the public safe from those who shouldn't belong on the streets due to something heinous that they did. That is why this ballot will make sure those who aren't as dangerous go back to their families and live normal lives, and it will make more room for the people who really do belong there.

Landon Tang

2/18/2016 11:12:03 pm

At it's core Prop 47 is a double edged sword. As many people have stated, it will drastically lower prison populations in the state of California which in turn will do two things: decrease the cost of the penal system in the state as well as provide the space needed to house the actually criminals that belong in prison. However by letting petty (non serious felons) criminals reintegrate back into society, the overall crime rate will increase whether the cause be burglary, larceny, or petty theft. I believe that this ballot measure will effect my neighborhood as I live in a lower income area not by choice but by necessity; if I don't see at least two patrol vehicles on my return from De Anza, it is an odd night.I believe the prisons promote the concept of consequences of crime, tt reinforces the idea that if caught, there will be life changing circumstances. I also believe that they are training grounds for hardening petty criminals into serious criminals. A proper analogy would be mixing two colors of Play-Doh; only one color will emerge.

josue monroy

2/21/2016 06:13:36 pm

you're right, prop 47 is a double edged sword. not all non serious offenders released from prison will do good. i believe half of them will commit more crimes and land back in prison however i believe that the major achievement will be achieved by investing more money on community programs and help keep a future generation out of the streets and the system in general.

Noel Alejandre

2/18/2016 11:25:50 pm

Prop 47 can be more helpful than harmful because it gives people a second chance. The felonies they are being charge for are not considered that big of a deal. Petty theft, drug charges, writing bad checks are just a few actions that are consider mistakes. This are not violent crimes where people could of gotten hurt. A lot of people make little mistakes once or twice in their lives and everybody has the right to keep trying. If they get locked up, it only makes it worse for them and they waste a lot of time and money from the tax payers. I think that the impact is that it will unite families that have not seen their family members for months or even years because they were in prison. It will also save the county or district money because it won't have as many inmates to take care of. But around my community, I don't think it will make it this far, for us to see a difference in our communities. It will benefit the people in jail, their families and the government. The bad thing about this is that there could be more misdemeanors for people. People also fear that more people will commit this misdemeanors because they know they would only pay a fine or go to rehave and not go to jail. I think that jails do not play a big part promoting public safety because public safety starts before people go to jail. These are just prisons to hold people that break the law, not health rehabilitation clinics. Promoting public safety usually happens outside jail in events or places we go to. I think that prop 47 completely stands to American values, because America is known to be the land of opportunities and prop 47 gives people that second chance to do things right. It's up to them, whether they want to keep going on that path or take control of their lives and make something out of the second opportunity they got.

Nimsy V

2/18/2016 11:33:44 pm

Proposition 47 can be helpful to some California residents, like the example the ambassador of women’s reintegration, Catherine. She says that prop 47 gives women the opportunity for to come back and be able to get back on their feet by qualifying for housing and food stamps to support their families. She also mentions that prop 47 will bring home family members who have been given enhancement on their sentences for repeat offenders. Nonetheless prop 47 has its bad side for example many people think that this prop will be a money saver by not having overcrowded prisons, but in reality it is not much money to start programs for people that will help them to reduce the possibility to back to prison.The ballot measure classifies non-serious and non-violent crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. So this proposition makes sense to pass in the fact that people that commit these types misdemeanors should not have to sentenced to to the same amount of jail time as a person who committed a murder. I think that the role that prisons play in promoting public safety is that they restrain
people who have committed crimes such as murder, assault, kidnaping, human trafficking those type things. This proposition 47 has helped people who have committed misdemeanors have a second chance, and wont be looked down as if they had committed a terrible crime.

Van Truong

2/18/2016 11:38:54 pm

Prop 47 can be very helpful to California residents because it is basically giving them a second chance, some people in prison who have committed lesser crimes as in misdemeanors as still put away for a long time just for a basic act that any person or citizen can do, but without getting caught. Prop 47 will basically give these people a second chance out of prison for a crime which they should not be spending 10 years in prison for. Also california Prisons currently are over crowded with inmates, and which this prop it will reduce the number of prisoners being held and also improve their quality of life inside the prison, 5 prisoners should not be stuck in a small crowded cell with each other, this could lead to dangerous situations or even anxiety. Prop 47 would also help reduce the spending from the government to keep these prisoners inside and could use that money to improve the local community, also the release of the prisoners provides a new demographic of workers who can start applying for job and boosting the economy of their local area. I think that prisons do promote public safety in a good way that shows an inmate if they commit this crime what they can be facing and how much time they will be locked up, what i dont agree on his long some of these prisoners are locked up for. Some prisoners are locked up for longer than necessary because they are a minority and although they might commit the same crime as the guy next to them because of the way they look they could be facing another 5 years in prison. I agree that prisons are necessary, but the way that the system is being used for prisoners needs reform and needs to be updated. First the living conditions of these individuals need to improve, and they way they are treated inside the prisons also needs to improve. Prop 47 promotes american values to the meaning of a second chance, people who may make a mistake are punished too heavily by the american law association, by how long they are sentenced to jail. Prop 47 would help these people recover from their crimes by giving them a second chance to do right by themselves and also to their community.

George Boxberger

2/18/2016 11:47:48 pm

I believe Prop 47 is tremendously helpful to California residents, and to the public good. It is clearly in the public interest to reduce the prison population. The fact of the matter is that Prop 47 makes a variety of nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The people being released from prison on this ballot measure, therefore, do not pose a clear threat to other members of society. Furthermore, having a larger prison population unnecessarily expands the size of government and increases taxes. Some common felonies that were converted to misdemeanors were drug and property offences, including shoplifting, writing bad checks, and drug possession. These are all nonviolent crimes, and people who have been found guilty for these offences should not be given extensive jail sentences and lose many of their civil rights as a result of incarceration. Having more people be considered felons only hurts society as a whole.

Prisons play a critical role in the promotion of public safety. There is no shortage of violent criminals that pose a threat to society that must be given some sort of punishment for their crimes. The second aspect of prison happens to be rehabilitation, which people tend to forget about due to the punishment aspect of prisons. Prisons in California and the United States must do their best to rehabilitate inmates and create incentives for them to reintegrate into society and live a productive life as a civilian. The high rates of recidivism we see in California are indicative of the fact that our prison system has failed to reintegrate citizens back into society, and does little to stop repeat offenders. The government must spend more and focus more on colleges and universities, and only focus on prisons to an extent necessary. We should not be investing more in prisons than we are in colleges and universities. FInally, this ballot measure supports American values in that it decreases the size of government and provides more liberty to its citizens, if only a select few. Smaller government and providing for more liberties, not to mention giving Americans second chances and new opportunities to be successful are all profoundly American values by nature.

Rohit Mathew

2/18/2016 11:48:40 pm

The regulation of prop 47 acts like a filter, allowing those who committed less serious crimes another chance, classifying their act as a misdemeanor. For several reasons prop 47 has my support, it firstly allows these people to erase the label of a "criminal" of the top their head, thus giving these people a chance at rehabilitation and hopefully a better life. These people who were classified as criminals, may just have been victims to a certain situation, provoking them to act in the way that they did. This helplessness is what inequality instills in the social structure of our society, thus leading to rash decisions being made. As said in the article, not having as many inmate's(prisoners) would lead to an inclination in monetary savings, as their would be less expenditure on taking care of these people. This ballot has restructured the budget allocation, making it more efficient. To me, it is highly unlikely to see an increase in crime rates because of prop 47, because of the harmlessness of the crimes these individuals have committed in the first place. Low crime doesn't mean no crime, which obviously suggests that these people were guilty... but the severity with which it should be dealt with has been uplifted by prop 47 rightly. Money that's being saved will be used in rehabilitation programs to ensure that these people are fit to enjoy their lives in this society. Prop 47 is all about being humane, being handed another chance at redemption. I couldn't be more supportive and appreciative of prop 47 and hopefully it doesn't get dismissed any time soon.

Charbel Mawad

2/20/2016 01:08:30 am

Yes, your first sentence is a good way of interpreting what Prop 47 actually is meant to do. I also believe that this ballot supports American values when it comes to being fair. Prisons are meant to keep people off the streets that don't belong on the street, such as murderers, gang bangers, or anyone who commits a crime. Prisons are definitely necessary, especially for public safety, but I think more money needs to be put into schools rather than prisons.Nonetheless, good response Rohit.

Mosima Sona

2/18/2016 11:50:11 pm

Prop 47 seems like it's could be viewed as a double edged sword in a couple of ways. While it does lower the offenses of more minor crimes to misdeameanors, it could also benefit those who have committed more severe crimes who are looking for less time somehow. On one hand it could help those people who only committed petty crimes and crimes of necessity, and that would help tremendously but on the other hand, for those with mulitiple crimes, it could prove to be more detrimental than beneficial. I can see how this is so controversial. As for the victims of the crime who spoke out, it's understandable that they'd feel fear of repercussion because of the image most people have of individuals who had been incarcerated. But I think that most people who've gone to prison have had chances to rehabilitate. The ones who decide to not give it a try end up going back and the ones who are actually determined to see it through are going to move on and move forward with their life trying to get better. The amounts of money used to work on these guys has really been getting higher and higher and with Prop 47, it'll be easier money-wise for awhile so it'd be important to make the time count. It would be smart to use money for other things like education like the video was saying because it'll at least make the money feel like it's doing some good and not just floating around.

Morgan Brum

2/18/2016 11:55:49 pm

With prop 47 i kind of stand in the middle because i know that it will help a lot of people however i know that a lot of people will be against the idea of letting more people out of prisons and clearing it up. i saw one post on facebook recently that stated in california we have built like twenty something prisons and only built one college. if i had to pick a side i believe that people shouldn't get punished unfairly for smaller crimes causing them to go to prison. i feel that people need to be with their family because if you don't have family then what else do you live for? I guess the only thing that you can possibly hope for would be that they dont resort back to their old ways. maybe adding nonprofitable organizations as an aid to those who need help getting back on their feet would be helpful. but in comparison to our college and prison ratio, something needs to be done because we are heading in the wrong direction.

Yunlin Xie

2/19/2016 12:59:31 am

1. Pro 47
First, it reduce the population in prison. Second, it can save much money. Last, reduce taxpayers’ burden. I heard there were people who committed a criminal offense intentionally in order to get into prisons. Because they want to have a place to stay and have food to eat, for some people these are easier to be obtained in prisons than outside. Besides, I believe what we want to is to educate these people and then change them, instead of just feeding them in prisons. Some criminals are not that serious, I quite agree to lower their penalties. Punishment is created for letting people know what it wrong and what should not do, and then change people’s bad behavior. If we do not give them a chance, how could them change.
2. Prisons
Personally, I think prisons should be a scary places. It should be defined as a “punishment measure”, otherwise, no one will take “prisons” seriously. We hope the person who walk in the prison and then walk out are different. Therefore, prisons should also be places for education. I always believe no people were born bad, all is the result of outside world. If there is a chance to provide one more useful person for our society, why not? Do not give up them, we need to save them and change them.
3. Ballot measure
I think ballot measure restrict some of government’s power and give this power to citizens. Ballot measure shows the democracy of a country. It is very necessary. China is a negative example.

Matthew Mullen

2/21/2016 02:48:20 am

I agree that education should be a much more important process and higher priority with inmates. I think it is interesting that the money that Prop 47 saved went to helping youth programs because that is a steer in the right direction of using education to prevent potential criminals. I think an even stronger emphasis should be put on education though.

josue monroy

2/21/2016 06:23:59 pm

wow i personally have never heard about anyone committing a crime just to go to jail to have a shelter and food, but it make perfect sense that a hungry homeless person would do such thing. we should invest more money in community programs to help those in need, to keep them from committing crimes just because they want to have a place to sleep and food. its a real shame that people have have to go to that extreme just to be helped.

Charbel Mawad

2/20/2016 01:01:57 am

In November 2014, California voters passed a new law that changed the state’s approach to sentencing. Proposition 47 reduced the penalties for certain drug and theft crimes. In many cases, district attorneys no longer have the option of prosecuting crimes that could be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony as felonies. The law not only changed the way these crimes are charged, but also allows people who are currently serving time for a conviction to get their sentences reduced. It allows people with past convictions to have the conviction on their criminal record reduced. Reducing a felony to a misdemeanor can lead to better employment opportunities and housing options that you may not have had with a felony on your record. What this ballot also does is it allows more money to be invested into our community, and not just the prisons. Some prisoners are in jail for longer than necessary because they are either a person of color or a minority, they can face longer times in prison as opposed to the white man who committed the same crime. This ballot also supports American values when it comes to being fair. Prisons are meant to keep people off the streets that don't belong on the street, such as murderers, gang bangers, or anyone who commits a crime. I think that prisons are definitely necessary, especially for public safety, but I think more money needs to be put into schools rather than prisons.

Keyan Mehrabi link

2/20/2016 10:14:30 am

I think that when you have people facing prison time for non-violent crimes, you are wasting not only that persons life, but money and resources that could be used in other matters. For example, selling marijuana is seen as such a bad crime but what for? There are so many people that sell drugs and it's impossible to arrest all of them, and on top of that they are not physically hurting anybody. I think giving them big fines might be more realistic than throwing them in jail. By jailing them, you are not helping or teaching them anything. I think it won't really affect our residents. People will want to assume that it means more crimes will happen but I don't think it will make much of a difference than how it already is , plus the government will be saving more money. I understand that they want a safe public, but there are so many worse crimes being committed and those are not punished. Bullying, beatings, sexual harassment, rape, emotional abuse. These are all worse than theft, and drugs and should be punished. I just read an article on how Kesha wanted out of her contract with Sony because she claims the producer raped her but it was rejected for lack of evidence. Come on judge? Let her out of the contract and let everyone go their own ways.

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