California voters have 10 ballot measures to consider while filling out their mail-in ballot or attending polls for the Nov. 5 election, including bond proposals, a minimum wage increase, and a public safety proposal, among other items.
Increased Drug and Theft Penalties
Proposition 36 allows felony charges for repeat offenders of certain drug and theft crimes. The proposal would also increase penalties for smash-and-grab robberies.
Proponents said Prop. 36 would stop criminals from exploiting loopholes in existing laws established by the passage of Proposition 47—which changed some felony crimes to misdemeanors—in 2014.
“California is suffering from an explosion in crime and the trafficking of deadly hard drugs like fentanyl,” a group of law enforcement and community advocates said in a supporting statement filed with the Secretary of State for inclusion in the ballot guide. “Prop. 36 will fix the mess our politicians have ignored for far too long.”…