Prop 47 is California's Biggest Blunder

[TreeFrogTrader]

This is actually a fairly common trend across the country to reduce incarceration rates. Oklahoma voted in 2016 to raise the felony threshold for theft from $500 to $1000. I was very leery when it passed because I thought it would lead to higher theft rates, but our theft rates have actually dropped. Felony convictions for theft have also dropped.

This might not work everywhere, but it seems to have been a positive for our state.

I do think though that there is a difference between making a felony a misdemeanor versus flat-out making it not a prosecute-able crime.

 

[LS1Z28]

I do think though that there is a difference between making a felony a misdemeanor versus flat-out making it not a prosecute-able crime.

I'm not all that familiar with California's legislation, but I don't think Prop. 47 completely decriminalizes these acts. It just moves them from felony to misdemeanor. You can still be prosecuted for these crimes, but you're a lot less likely to end up incarcerated.

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

I can see no possible problem with telling people that stealing $1000 worth of someone else's property (at a time) is no more serious than a parking ticket.

I mean, these are good people and they add so much to our communities.