2014 California crime law eases penalties, now Proposition 36 aims to increase them.
Crime was once a dominant political issue in California, with Republicans using tough-on-crime stances to secure electoral victories in the 1980s and 1990s, leading to mass incarceration. In recent years, Democrats have modified or repealed these laws, citing mass incarceration for minor crimes. This has resulted in a halved inmate population and numerous prison closures. However, the state's crime rate has recently increased, with property crimes and certain violent offenses on the rise. A ballot measure, Proposition 36, aims to enhance penalties for certain crimes, partly reversing a 2014 measure that reduced penalties. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a 10-bill package to address property crime but has not yet determined his stance on Prop. 36. A recent poll shows strong support for the measure.