Prop 20

Official Arguments (click ▸ to expand)

California Proposition 20, Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative (2020) - Ballotpedia

California Proposition 20, the Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative, is on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 3, 2020. A " yes" vote supports this initiative to add crimes to the list of violent felonies for which early parole is restricted; recategorize certain types of theft and fraud crimes as wobblers (chargeable as misdemeanors or felonies); and require DNA collection for certain misdemeanors.

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🚫 San Francisco Chronicle

"Various studies have shown these dramatic drops in incarceration have not contributed to a significant increase in crime, which continues to stabilize at 1960s levels. It’s instructive that one of the big early funders of Proposition 20 was the prison guards, with boosts from other law enforcement unions. Voters who were fed up with the waste of money and waste of lives — and racial disparities — rejected that retrograde mindset with the passages of Props. 47 and 57. Vote no on Prop. 20."

✅ The San Diego Union-Tribune

Endorsement: Yes on Prop. 20: California's crime reforms need reform

Thankfully, the understanding that America's criminal justice system is far too punitive has increasingly resonated in a bipartisan way since the tough-on-crime politics of the 1990s led to draconian new laws. But two of the most notable recent reforms in California - Proposition 47, approved by state voters in 2014, and Proposition 57, approved by state voters in 2016 - contained deep flaws.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

🚫 American Civil Liberties Union SoCal

"Vote to protect criminal justice reforms.

Prop 20 will dramatically increase the number of people incarcerated in our prisons and jails by restricting parole release and enacting one of the nation’s strictest laws for theft. Vote NO on Prop 20 to stop the police unions from ratcheting up the criminalization and oppression of Black and brown communities in California."

🚫 Los Angeles Times

"Proposition 20 is built on a package of falsehoods about critical reforms that California lawmakers and voters wisely adopted over the last nine years to curb some of the most gratuitous excesses of the state’s criminal justice system. The measure deserves a resounding 'no.' This state is leading the nation away from decades of foolish and wasteful policies that prevent even low-level offenders from correcting their mistakes and getting on with productive and law-abiding lives. This is no time to reverse course."

🚫 The Mercury News

Editorial: Reject Prop. 20's return to a 'lock 'em up' justice system

Get editorials, opinion columns, letters to the editor and more in your inbox weekday mornings. Sign up for the Bay Area Opinion newsletter. The last thing California needs is a return to the tough-on-crime days of the 1990s that largely failed to lower crime rates and resulted in massive prison overcrowding and skyrocketing costs to taxpayers .

www.mercurynews.com

🚫 Orange County Register

"Fundamentally, however, Prop. 20 itself is the wrong vehicle for raising and implementing the policy changes it promotes. At a time when Californians continue to be supportive of scaling back mass incarceration, Prop. 20 offers only the preferences of police and prison guard unions. Complex issues such as the matters at hand demand a more deliberative and thoughtful approach than Prop. 20 provides. Voters should vote “no” on Prop. 20."

🚫 The Desert Sun

"As was true in 2018, this measure would only make California’s real housing problem — the dearth of affordable housing development — more difficult. It will only add the uncertainty of local rent control boards to California’s already Byzantine and costly housing development process."

Editorial: 'No' on Prop 20, but some of its criminal justice law tweaks should be adopted

Endorsements are decided by the Editorial Board, which operates independently of The Desert Sun news staff. The Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Al Franco, Executive Editor Julie Makinen, Desert Sun Staff Member Darby Wright and community members Gloria Franz, Becky Kurtz, Terria Smith and Rob Moon.

www.desertsun.com

🚫 California Democratic Party

"Wastes tens of millions on prisons causing cuts to rehabilitation and schools. Stop the Prison Spending Scam!"

No on Prop 20 - Stop the Prison Spending Scam

The non-partisan Legislative Analyst says Prop 20 will cost, "tens of millions of dollars" every year which could force draconian cuts to: * Rehabilitation in prison for people getting out * Mental health programs proven to reduce repeat crime * Schools, healthcare, housing, and homelessness * Fire protection and public safety programs * Support for victims Prop 20 means petty theft - stealing a bike - could be charged as a serious felony.

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✅ Republican Party

"Strengthens Penalties for Violent Crimes

Prop 20 strengthens criminal penalties, ensuring that the most serious offenders are brought to justice -- reversing recent statewide policies that allow criminals to get off easy."