Proposition 57: Criminal Sentences. Juvenile Criminal Proceedings and Sentencing
The voting information below is from the Secretary of State website:
Summary
Allows parole consideration for persons convicted of nonviolent felonies upon completion of full prison term for primary offense, as defined. Authorizes Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to award sentence credits for rehabilitation, good behavior, or educational achievements. Requires Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to adopt regulations to implement new parole and sentence credit provisions and certify they enhance public safety. Provides juvenile court judges shall make determination, upon prosecutor motion, whether juveniles age 14 and older should be prosecuted and sentenced as adults.
A Yes Vote Means
A YES vote on this measure means: Certain state prison inmates convicted of nonviolent felony offenses would be considered for release earlier than otherwise. The state prison system could award additional sentencing credits to inmates for good behavior and approved rehabilitative or educational achievements. Youths must have a hearing in juvenile court before they could be transferred to adult court.
A No Vote Means
A NO vote on this measure means: There would be no change to the inmate release process. The state's prison system could not award additional sentencing credits to inmates. Certain youths could continue to be tried in adult court without a hearing in juvenile court.
Pro Argument
California public safety leaders and victims of crime support Proposition 57—the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016—because Prop. 57 focuses resources on keeping dangerous criminals behind bars, while rehabilitating juvenile and adult inmates and saving tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. YES on Prop. 57. Read more here.
Con Argument
Vote NO on 57 because it: Authorizes EARLY RELEASE of violent criminals, including those who RAPE unconscious victims. Authorizes immediate release for 16,000 dangerous criminals, even convicted murderers. Amends the California Constitution; takes rights away from victims; grants more rights to criminals. Vote NO on 57. Read more here.