Big money is backing California voter initiative that would send fewer criminals to prison
A well-off mix of progressive foundations and activists along with a conservative Christian businessman is putting significant money and effort into a California voter initiative that would reduce some felonies to misdemeanors, the Los Angeles Times and the Huffington Post report.
Campaign finance reports filed Monday show that B. Wayne Hughes, a conservative businessman who is active in prison ministries, has contributed $1.2 million to the effort, basically matching funding from the George Soros’ Open Society Policy Center. Also making big contributions were Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; Molly Munger, a civil rights lawyer and daughter of Charlie Munger (the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Corp.); and progressive activist Steven Phillips.
The more than $4 million raised to support California’s Proposition 47 dwarfs the $280,000 put up by opponents—mostly police unions and county prosecutors.
The measure would reclassify seven crimes as misdemeanors, removing prosecutorial discretion for possible felony charges. They include drug possession, forgery and check fraud of less than $950
The Los Angeles Times editorial board has endorsed the measure, saying it “would do a great deal to stop the ongoing and unnecessary flow of Californians to prison for nonviolent and nonserious offenses.”
Further, Proposition 47 directs that cost savings from lowering prison populations would go to efforts preventing recidivism, such as substance abuse and mental health treatment, as well as to support services for re-entry into society, the editorial points out.
Critics say the change could put more dangerous criminals back on the streets, the Times editorial says.