With property theft crimes impacting communities across California, a growing number of critics, including one supervisor who originally supported the measure, are questioning if Proposition 47 (pdf)—passed by voters in 2014 with the intention of reducing prison populations—is contributing to criminal activity.
“It’s broken. I initially supported the law, as I was sold on the fact it would keep drug addicts and those with mental health issues out of our prisons,” David Canepa, San Mateo County supervisor, a Democrat, told The Epoch Times by email Aug. 31. “But what we’ve seen is an incredible uptick in shoplifting and crimes against property that are generally charged as misdemeanors.”
