Now that November is upon up California is faced with many important issues on this year’s General Election ballot. Proposition 47 is one of them. This prop is a controversial issue that has a great effect on the California education system. If California voters approve this proposition it would result in a reduction of punishment towards “nonserious and nonviolent property and drug crimes”. These crimes would cease to be labeled a felony and considered to be misdemeanor unless the offender has committed any serious crimes such as murder, rape, gun crimes, or committed any acts of sexual offense. Shoplifting that does not exceed $950, forgery that not does exceed $950, and personal use of most illegal drugs would be deemed a felony instead of a misdemeanor. This proposition if passed would reduce the jail time for these types of nonserious crimes thus reducing funding spent towards correctional systems. According to the California Budget Project analysis of this year’s state budget California spends approximately $62,000 per person on inmates while spending about $9,000 per K-12 students. The savings accumulated from this proposition if passed would go towards creating safe neighborhoods and school funds.
Source:California General Election Official Voter Information Guide November 2014, “Text of Proposed Laws,”