A Mother's Appeal - Vote NO on Prop 36
Prop 36 slashes money meant for crime victims, as well as mental health and rehabilitation programs that help reduce recidivism
On the California November 5th general election ballot, Proposition 36 proposes to extend “three strikes”-style tough-on-crime sentencing to low-level non-violent drug and theft offenses. It also would cost California taxpayers millions each year and strip funding from critical crime prevention programs that keep communities safe and healthy. Because more Californians would languish in jail and prison on low-level offenses, Prop 36 would cost taxpayers an additional $5 billion a year on top of the $27 billion spent annually for jails, courts, and prisons across the state.
While expending hundreds of millions of dollars in court and prison costs, Prop 36 will not measurably reduce crime or poverty. No studies on criminal justice or homelessness support the idea that harsher punishment — or the threat of harsher punishment — prevents crime or gets people off the street.
In the meantime, schools, health care, drug treatment and other essential services will go wanting.
Aimee is an Orange County parent who lost her son Ben to an overdose. She knows Proposition 36 will do more harm than good and make it harder for people to access the help they need. In partnership with Broken No More (A non profit providing support and guidance to those who have lost a loved one due to substance use, and advancing the effective treatment for addiction/substance use disorder) and Prosecutors Alliance Action, (an organization that supports and amplifies the voices of California prosecutors, victim advocates, and allies committed to reforming the criminal justice system through smart, safe, modern solutions that advance both public safety and community well-being), Aimee provided a statement voicing her opposition to Prop 36.
"If Proposition 36 is passed, the fear of being imprisoned will cost other parents the life of their child. Proposition 36 will create a monster, a monster of fear. If it passes, this monster of fear will cause more parents to bury their children as I buried Ben."
Watch Aimee's impassioned plea for California voters to vote No on Prop 36.
Download the No on Prop 36 fact sheet here (PDF).
Don’t be fooled. Prop 36 is a conservative-led bait and switch, plain and simple. Crime victims and law enforcement leaders oppose Prop 36 because it slashes money meant for crime victims, and for mental health and rehabilitation programs that help ensure people getting out of jail or prison are less likely to reoffend. Prop 36 is an effort to bring back to 1980s style drug war tactics that eliminates all the gains made toward slowing mass incarceration while destroying families and communities without any benefit to public safety.
