In less than 7 weeks, California voters will have the opportunity to go to the ballot box to weigh in on state and local offices and six state ballot initiatives. One initiative on the ballot, Prop 47, would change California’s sentencing laws by reducing the classification of seven categories of non-serious and nonviolent property and drug crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Proposition 47 would:

• Reclassify six non-serious, nonviolent crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies.
• Allow for resentencing of approximately 10,000 Californians currently serving time in prison for crimes like shoplifting, writing bad checks or using drugs.
• Create a “Safe Neighborhoods & Schools” Fund where an estimated $150-250 million a year will be used to fund education (25%), victim services (10%) and mental health and substance abuse treatment (65%).

Find out more about Proposition 47, here.