In November, California voters will decide on Proposition 36—a ballot measure that would toughen penalties for some drug and theft crimes—which has sparked debate over the future direction of the state’s criminal justice system reform.
Prop. 36, known as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act, was initiated by the California District Attorneys Association. It would reintroduce the three-strikes principle for certain property crimes, and a third conviction for shoplifting could be elevated to a felony charge.
In the case of drug offenses, Prop. 36 would give prosecutors discretion to offer offenders an option to receive drug addiction treatment instead of going to jail….