At a press conference being held today, California Assembly Member Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) will introduce legislation seeking changes to the recently passed Proposition 47.
Approved by voters in the November general election, Proposition 47 retroactively reclassified several crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. Following its passage, inmates statewide were immediately released from incarceration when their crimes were reclassified.
Joining Cooper at the press conference will be Sacramento and San Bernardino County District Attorney's Ann Marie Shubert and Mike Ramos.
During his Assembly race last fall Cooper expressed concern with the effects should the proposition succeed (listen to audio interview posted below). Since that time, Cooper, a 30-year veteran of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, has joined a chorus of law enforcement officials expressing concern over the release of inmates and the reduction of certain crimes to misdemeanors.
The proposition's passage succeeded in part because of anticipated cost savings for the state. According to report released yesterday the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office, the state is expected to save between $100 and $200 million next year from reduced prison populations.
The news conference will be held in California State Capitol, Room 126 and starts at 11 a.m.
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