Image by gustavofrazaoOPINION – Recent state-level changes have sought to alter or repeal laws designed to hold individuals accountable for crimes, often without considering how all of the changes work together and their broader impact on the justice system.
An illustration of a male prison inmate. (Image: phoelixDE, via Shutterstock)Proposition 47, the voter-approved ballot initiative aimed at easing prison overcrowding by releasing non-violent offenders, has generally succeeded in its goal. But the controversial measure also has run into some glitches. Researchers find that Proposition 47, approved in 2014, contributed to a decrease in rearrest rates while spurring a slight uptick in property crimes.