The fallout from California’s Proposition 47 is now stretching beyond the State’s borders. Clark County Sheriff, Joe Lombardo, believes that the recent increase in violent crime in Las Vegas may have a direct correlation to the depopulation of California jails under Proposition 47. According to the Metro Police Sheriff, he has had a notable increase in interactions with California gang members. Interactions with these people have occurred during arrests and investigations of serious crimes that are affecting the region. It is estimated that violent crime in the area has risen around 22% including 37 homicides this year alone. While the sheriff notes that there could be a “plethora” of reasons for this hike in crime, there is a strong possibility that released inmates under Prop 47 have made their way across the border. Under the proposition some felony sentences were reduced to misdemeanors to relieve the overburdened system. This resulted in a reduction of 12 percent of the jail population and 4 percent of the prison population in the State according to the Los Angeles Times.
Lombardo is not the first law enforcement agent to express concern over the proposition. Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell is on record as stating that he believes that Proposition has led to more crime, not less. Prosecutors have also questioned the effectiveness of the statewide initiative. Many believe that the proposition does little in the way of helping those in need of drug rehabilitation.
It is unclear how Proposition 47 will affect California and the neighboring communities in the long run, but the short-term effect has been dismal to say the least. Learn more about the proposition by following our blog at Premiere Bail Bonds.
