Proposition 47, commonly referred to as Prop 47, is a transformative criminal justice reform measure passed in California in 2014. Officially titled the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, this voter-approved initiative reclassified certain non-violent felonies as misdemeanors, significantly impacting how petty theft and low-level offenses are handled in the state. Prop 47 has sparked widespread discussion about its effects on crime rates, incarceration, and rehabilitation programs. In this article, we’ll explore the details of Prop 47, its implications for petty theft and misdemeanors, and its broader impact on the U.S. criminal justice system.
