California voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to increase penalties for certain crimes, with an impressive 70.6% support from nearly 7.6 million counted ballots.
The outcome of Proposition 36 in California reflected a strong response to lenient penalties for offenses like shoplifting and drug-related crimes. Despite opposition from Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, the initiative passed successfully.
Proposition 36 authorizes felony charges for possession of drugs such as fentanyl and thefts under $950 for individuals with two prior drug or theft convictions, as outlined in the official summary of its provisions here.
This new law introduces a category of crime called “treatment-mandated felony,” allowing individuals to have their drug conviction dismissed upon completing rehabilitation.
According to the measure’s summary, “Defendants who plead guilty to felony drug possession and complete treatment can have charges dismissed.”
Governor Newsom strongly opposed the measure, stating that “Proposition 36 takes us back to the 1980s, mass incarceration—it promotes a promise that can’t be delivered.”
Advocates of “Yes on Prop 36” argued that a tougher stance was necessary to maintain the quality of life for residents. They highlighted the impact of shoplifting, which led stores to inconvenience ordinary shoppers by locking up items and increasing prices.
The group behind the initiative also emphasized that it provided a balanced approach to drug users by implementing treatment-mandated sentences similar to those in other states.
The victory of the measure was projected by major news outlets with approximately 56.6% of the ballots counted.
