1. Prop. 47 Criminal Sentences

2. The Question Should the penalties for certain offenders convicted of non-serious, nonviolent crimes be reduced from felonies to misdemeanors?

3. The situation Felony is the most serious crime. Some crimes, labeled as “wobblers” can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony (e.g. check forgery, non-violent drug crimes).

4. What Prop. 47 would do Reduce the penalty for most nonviolent wobblers and felonies to misdemeanors, unless the defendant has prior convictions for violent and serious crimes. Permit resentencing for anyone currently serving a prison sentence for any of the offenses reclassified in Prop. 47

5. Effects Several hundreds of millions would be saved annually. Thousands of prisoners would be released from jail.

6. For Against

7. Arguments For Prop. 47 will reduce prison spending and waste on low- level nonviolent crimes. Law enforcement resources will be focused on violent and serious crimes. Savings will be redirected from prison spending to K-12 school programs, assistance for victims of crime, mental health programs, and drug treatment. Against Prop. 47 will release thousands of dangerous inmates. It will overcrowd the justice system with resentencing hearings.