Proposition 47 Overview
On November 4, 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47, a law that changes certain low-level crimes like drug possession and petty theft offenses from potential felonies to misdemeanors. This will reduce incarceration costs, and those savings will be invested (via grants) into drug treatment and mental health services for people in the criminal justice system, programs for at-risk students in K-12 schools, and victim services. Individuals who are incarcerated for these offenses can seek a new (shortened) sentence, and individuals previously convicted of these felonies in California can seek to have them reclassified as misdemeanors. Individuals eligible for either resentencing or reclassification under Prop. 47 must file their applications/petitions within three years – by November 5, 2017. Read Full Factsheet Here