Interfaith Leaders, Calif. Police Chiefs At Odds Over Prop 47
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Southland faith and community held a rally Monday at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles in support of Proposition 47, which would reduce some drug and property offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.
Congresswoman Karen Bass joined various local activist groups including Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and Southern Christian Leadership Conference in calling for prison reform
"Yes On 47" supporters say Proposition 47 would help reform the state's "broken" penal system and direct as much as $1 billion to K-12 school programs, victim services, mental health services and drug treatment.
"Proposition 47 is critical for the success of those wishing to end a cycle of prison sentences and disenfranchisement from our economy," said Rabbi Jonathan Klein. "It is a sorely needed response to over-incarceration and criminalization of Angelenos at a time when our prison system is the largest in the country."
But some law enforcement officials and other opponents of Prop 47 - known as the "Safe Neighborhoods and Schools" Act - say judges and prosecutors would be stripped of any discretion in keeping first-time, low-level offenders out of prison.
They also argue the legislation would reduce several violent crimes to misdemeanors, including carjacking, armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault on a peace officer or firefighter with any assault weapon, handgun, or shotgun.
Chief Christopher W. Boyd, President of the California Police Chiefs Association urged voters to thoroughly research Prop 47 before heading to the voting booth.
"Under Prop 47, individuals with prior convictions for robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, felony child abuse, spousal abuse, arson, and many other serious and violent felonies will not be considered dangerous, and will be required to be re-sentenced and released back onto our streets sooner than they otherwise would have," Boyd said. "This initiative will in no way make our communities safer."
