Stricter Penalties for Theft and Drug Offenses Target Vulnerable Populations, Worsening Homelessness and Addiction
Last September, Donald Trump promised that, if reelected , “We will immediately stop all of the pillaging and theft. Very simply: If you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store.”
Too often, it feels like we make a few tiny steps forward only to trip and stumble ten steps back. This is what Proposition 36 feels like today.
What is Proposition 36?
California voters recently approved Proposition 36 with 68.9% in favor, ushering in stricter penalties for theft and drug offenses, including possession. Under Prop 36, a third misdemeanor can now be elevated to a felony, and individuals with prior convictions caught possessing fentanyl will face felony charges.
However, this measure disproportionately impacts California’s most vulnerable populations, including poor and homeless people, as well as those struggling with addiction. Prop 36 represents a stark example of the aggressive criminalization of homelessness and poverty…