SACRAMENTO – Legislation supported by law enforcement, crime prevention advocates and small business owners to fix several serious issues with Proposition 47 was killed in the Assembly Public Safety Committee after every Democrat voted against the bill.
Since the passage of Proposition 47, crimes like gun theft, shoplifting, drug possession, and receiving stolen property are only prosecuted as misdemeanors no matter how many times the crime is committed as long as the stolen items are less $950.
Prop 47 – Fixing the Unintended Consequences (AB 2369) would have allowed a judge to charge anyone convicted three times of certain crimes within a three year span with a felony instead of a misdemeanor.
“This bill would give the power back to law enforcement, the court and the countless crime victims who are sick and tired of being stolen from time and again,” Assemblyman Patterson said. “The people have been misled. This is not what they voted for but unfortunately in Sacramento, that doesn’t matter.”
The lack of a threat of felony conviction has also eliminated the incentive for criminals to attend drug treatment in exchange for a lesser penalty. This has led to a more than 50 percent drop in drug court participation in Fresno County.
The bill would have been on the November 2016 ballot.
Committee Members Include:
- Reginald B. Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (Chair) – D-Los Angeles
- Melissa A. Melendez (Vice Chair) – R-Lake Elsinore
- Tom Lackey – R-Palmdale
- Patty López – D-San Fernando
- Evan Low – D-Silicon Valley
- Bill Quirk – D-Hayward
- Miguel Santiago – D-Los Angeles
Original Release:
Assemblyman Patterson Introduces Bill to Fix Prop 47 and Stop Criminals Manipulating the System, Bill Would Make Gun Theft a Felony Again
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) was joined by local law enforcement, crime prevention advocates and small business owners at a press conference to announce a fix to several serious issues with Proposition 47 that are keeping dangerous criminals on the streets.
Since the passage of Proposition 47, crimes like gun theft, shoplifting, drug possession, and receiving stolen property are only prosecuted as misdemeanors no matter how many times the crime is committed as long as the stolen items are less than $950.
Prop 47 – Fixing the Unintended Consequences (AB 2369) would allow a judge to charge anyone convicted three times of certain crimes within a three year span with a felony instead of a misdemeanor. Gun theft would be an automatic felony.
“Proposition 47 has created a misplaced sympathy for criminals and has created a perverse reality for our law enforcement and business owners,” Assemblyman Patterson said. “This bill would give the power back to law enforcement, the court and the countless crime victims who are sick and tired of being stolen from time and again.”
The lack of a threat of felony conviction has also eliminated the incentive for criminals to attend drug treatment in exchange for a lesser penalty. This has led to a more than 50 percent drop in drug court participation in Fresno County.
AB 2369 will be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee next week.
1 comment
Drug possession should NOT be a crime. It’s a health issue, not a criminal issue.
Comments are closed.