Courts. Superior and Municipal Court Consolidation. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
	Argument in Favor of Proposition 220

CALIFORNIA'S THREE STRIKES LAW IS A SUCCESS . . . but our courts need to improve to make it work even better. The threat of life sentences for repeat criminals has led to massive increases in the number of jury trials and appeals. Filings have increased dramatically and jury trial requests have risen by more than 600% in Los Angeles alone.

WILL PROPOSITION 220 IMPROVE OUR COURTS? YES! Unifying our courts will make more judges available to handle the explosion of criminal cases now clogging the system as well as expedite the disposition of civil matters which currently take as long as FIVE years to resolve. Nearly 70% of local jail inmates are criminals not serving sentences--but awaiting trial! Local governments are being forced to provide early release for such "lower priority" criminals as wife-beaters and drug sellers!

WILL PROPOSITION 220 SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY? YES! It costs state taxpayers nearly $1,000,000 for each new judgeship! Proposition 220 will allow local courts to combine their functions and reduce the need for new judges. A recent study by the National Center for State Courts found that unification in California would save a minimum of $16,000,000 by reallocating judicial resources, $4,000,000 from reduced judicial assignments, $3,000,000 in reduced administrative costs. Proposition 220 is supported by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

PROPOSITION 220 HAS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. In addition to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Proposition 220 is supported by the Judicial Council, dozens of trial courts throughout the state, the California State Association of Counties, the California State Sheriffs' Association, and many more organizations and individuals.

Keep "Three Strikes" working. VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 220.

SENATOR BILL LOCKYER
California State Senate
JOEL FOX
President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
SHERIFF CHARLES BYRD
President, California State Sheriffs' Association