zimmerman Former San Diego Police Chief. She retired in 2018 after serving 35 years with the San Diego Police Department.
One of the keys to success in life is learning from your mistakes and learning how to take advantage of second chances. That’s exactly what California voters can do, as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act is expected to be on the ballot this election. This initiative makes common sense reforms that address the obvious problems created by Prop. 47, particularly by reversing the lack of accountability for drug and theft offenders, who currently have little incentive to curb their behavior. The purpose is
Proposition 47, passed by state voters in 2014, reduced penalties for certain crimes such as theft and drug possession and promised improved rehabilitation. However, the results of this effort have become increasingly visible in recent years. When you walk into any store, you’re likely to encounter locked aisles of products. This is a visible reminder that rampant theft has become all too common. And the frequency of open drug use on the streets, even near schools and playgrounds, is a sign of our failure to effectively address drug addiction and the devastating effects it often causes homelessness. It highlights that we are moving towards a new path.
When speaking with people in the community, a common theme is that theft, whether it’s car break-ins or shoplifting, is now so commonplace that all too often incidents go unreported. This is why surveys asking whether people have ever been victims of crime have shown a significant increase in respondents.
The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act is a reasonable response to solving these problems. It creates much-needed accountability for repeat offenders by making it a felony for stealing more than $950 in multiple thefts, effectively allowing them to steal multiple times with little repercussions. This eliminates loopholes that could lead to It also reintroduces the use of drug courts by granting felonies to people who have been convicted of drug possession three times, providing an avenue for individuals struggling with addiction to address the underlying addiction. Charges can be avoided by entering court-mandated treatment through drug court. .
Before Prop. 47 was passed, drug courts offered a structured program aimed at breaking the cycle of drug abuse, providing a lifeline for people struggling with addiction. As drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine have become more addictive and powerful than ever before, the reality is that most addicts don’t seek help on their own. That’s one reason drug overdose deaths continue to rise. In the wake of Prop. 47, drug courts and the law’s remarkable success in helping people break the cycle of addiction have plummeted. With little incentive to seek treatment, we’re seeing an endemic revolving door release people back onto the streets.
This opportunity to reform Proposition 47 provides an opportunity to activate this important tool in the fight against addiction. This is an important step towards addressing the root causes of why some people become homeless and turn to crimes such as theft to support their addictions.
California allows the Legislature to negotiate with supporters of ballot measures to resolve issues before a vote is taken. Legislative leaders have already said they prefer a series of recently introduced bills to replace the Homelessness, Addiction and Theft Reduction Act. However, only voters have the power to amend Proposition 47. Proposition 47’s legislative changes must “further advance the intent” of the original concept, meaning increased penalties for drug possession or theft must be approved by voters. Therefore, anything passed by Congress without voter approval will inevitably be challenged in court.
With this reform initiative likely to qualify, Congress is finally paying attention to much-needed action to reduce drug addiction and theft. But anything other than real solutions that move people toward overcoming drug addiction and improving accountability for repeat offenders is just a bait-and-switch.
Californians want real solutions. When we held an event to gather signatures to put this initiative on the ballot, the response was so great that there was a line of people waiting to get their signatures before the event started.
Let’s learn from past mistakes and enact reforms to restore responsibility for California’s crime and drug crisis. Our community deserves nothing more.
