Election 2016: Prop 57
Here's what you need to know to decide how to vote on California's Proposition 57.
ICYMI: the 2016 election will be held on Tuesday, November 8, with early voting kicking off at San Francisco’s City Hall on Tuesday, October 11.
In addition to voting for officials at the local, state, and national level, San Franciscans will face a decision on 17 state ballot initiatives and 25 local propositions.
Not sure how to vote on Proposition 57? We hope the brief voter guide below will help you decide!
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What Is Prop 57?
Prop 57 would allow for parole consideration for nonviolent felons and allows sentence credits for rehabilitation, good behavior, and education.
The proposition also provides that juvenile court judges shall decide whether teens 14 and older should be prosecuted as adults.
Who Supports Prop 57?
Key supporters of Prop 57 include: Governor Jerry Brown; Lenore Anderson, head of Californians for Safety and Justice; Senator Loni Hancock (D-Oakland); and Charlie Beck, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Supporters argue that the proposition would help to rehabilitate both juvenile and adult inmates while keeping violent offenders in prison.
Proponents also contend that Prop 57 would save taxpayers millions of dollars by reducing the state’s overcrowded prison population.
Who Opposes Prop 57?
Key opponents of Prop 57 include: Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford); Martin Halloran, President of the San Francisco Police Officers Association; George Hofstetter, President of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs; and Stephen Wagstaffe, President of the California District Attorneys Association.
Opponents argue that the proposition would allow criminals convicted of crimes like rape, lewd acts against a child, and human trafficking to be released early from prison, which could potentially result in increased crime rates.
Opponents also contend that Prop 57 would overturn some provisions of victims’ rights legislation and force victims to relive their experiences more frequently through increased parole hearings.
Learn More about Prop 57
To learn more, read the full text of Proposition 57.
