PROP
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS. PAROLE.
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.
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SUMMARY Put on the Ballot by Petition Signatures
Requires notification to victim and opportunity for input during phases of criminal justice process, including bail, pleas, sentencing and parole. Establishes victim safety as consideration for bail or parole. Fiscal Impact: Potential loss of state savings on prison operations and increased county jail costs amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Potential net savings in the low tens of millions of dollars annually on parole procedures.
WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS
YES A YES vote on this measure means: Crime victims would have additional constitutionally guaranteed rights, such as the right to participate in any public criminal proceedings. Payments of restitution to crime victims would be required without exception, and any funds collected from offenders ordered to pay restitution would go to pay that obligation before any other. Inmates with life sentences who were denied parole would generally have to wait longer before being considered again for release. Some parolees facing revocation and return to prison may no longer be represented by legal counsel. Early release of inmates to reduce prison or jail overcrowding would be restricted in certain circumstances.
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NO A NO vote on this measure means: Victims will continue to have the statutory right to be notified of certain criminal justice proceedings, such as sentencing and parole proceedings. Whether victim restitution would be ordered would remain subject to a judge’s discretion, and the manner in which money collected from defendants is distributed would remain unchanged. Current waiting periods for parole revocation hearings and parole consideration would remain unchanged. All parolees would continue to be entitled to receive legal representation at parole hearings. State and local governments could take steps to release inmates early to reduce jail and prison overcrowding.
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ARGUMENTS
PRO California’s constitution gives convicted criminals generous rights. Crime victims don’t have similar protections. Prop. 9 improves public safety and justice, giving victims enforceable constitutional rights. It saves taxpayers millions and prevents politicians from releasing criminals just to ease overcrowding. It’s endorsed by victims, law enforcement, Republicans, and Democrats. Vote YES.
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CON Prop. 9 asks voters to support victims’ rights already protected under state law. The hundreds of millions it drains from state and local government doesn’t go to crime victims, it goes toward building more prisons! It places complex, duplicative laws into the Constitution, making modernization nearly impossible. Vote No.
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FOR
Randle Communications
925 L Street, Suite 1275
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-5802
Yesonprop9@gmail.com |
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AGAINST
Richard Rios
No on Propositions 6 & 9
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 1425
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 442-2952
www.votenoprop9.com |
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