California voters are getting ready to make a choice this fall that could change how the state deals with crime. About ten years back (in 2014) people in California voted for Proposition 47‚ which was meant to put fewer people in jail. It did that‚ but it also made some problems worse.
Now‚ theres a new plan called Proposition 36. Its trying to fix whats not working with Prop 47. The main idea is to be tougher on people who keep breaking the law. For example if someone steals stuff worth less than $950 three times‚ they could get a bigger punishment. Also‚ if someone keeps getting caught with drugs‚ they might have to go to treatment or face jail time.
Prop 36 also wants to do more about the drug crisis. It says people who sell drugs that kill someone could be charged with murder. It also wants to give longer sentences to people who sell a lot of drugs.
The measure is getting support from big stores like Walmart and Target. Theyʼre putting money into the campaign because they want to stop people from stealing from their shops. But its not just big companies - small store owners are also asking for this law.
Some people dont like Prop 36. They think it might be too hard on young people who make mistakes. But the people who wrote the law say its mostly for grown-ups who keep breaking the law over and over.
Interestingly‚ politicians from both sides like this idea. The mayors of big cities in California (who are Democrats) support it. Even some people who liked Prop 47 before now think Prop 36 is a good idea.
Proposition 36 is aimed not at those who take the odd bottle of nail polish but at thieves who sweep up shelves of makeup that are resold online or at flea markets
If Prop 36 passes‚ experts think it might put a few thousand more people in jail. Right now‚ there are about 90‚000 people in California prisons