Report The Impact of Proposition 47 on Crime and Recidivism By Mia Bird, Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin, Steven Raphael Jun 12, 2018 Passed by voters in November 2014, Proposition 47 brought broad and significant changes to California’s criminal justice system. Undertaken in the wake of public safety realignment in 2011, Proposition 47 reduced the penalties for certain lower-level drug and property offenses and represented a further step in prioritizing prison and jail space for higher-level offenders.
Report K–12 Reforms and California’s English Learner Achievement Gap By Laura Hill May 30, 2018 English Learner (EL) students have been a key part of California’s K–12 system for decades. They currently make up about 21 percent of the public school population. English Learner status is meant to be temporary, and indeed, reclassified English Learners (those who are deemed English proficient) are among the best-performing students in the state. But students who remain ELs for longer periods generally have poor outcomes.
blog post How California’s Water Bond Is Being Spent By Jelena Jezdimirovic, Ellen Hanak Dec 13, 2017 Looking at how the 2014 water bond is being spent gives insights into how bonds are turned into projects on the ground.
blog post Crime Rates Stable Overall, But Some Counties See Big Changes By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Sep 25, 2017 Corrections reforms in California have not resulted in a broad surge in crime. But the statewide numbers mask substantial differences across counties.
blog post Proposition 57’s Impact on Prisons By Brandon Martin, Magnus Lofstrom Jul 24, 2017 Proposition 57 is expected to reduce the prison population by more than 2,600 inmates in 2017‒18, with a net cost savings of nearly $40 million.
blog post Grants Awarded to Combat Recidivism By Brandon Martin Jun 15, 2017 Under Proposition 47, savings from a decrease in the prison population must go toward services such as mental health and substance abuse treatment. The first grants were just awarded.