blog post Proposition 47 Brought Decreases to Both Prison and Jail Populations By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Sep 8, 2015 Two major criminal justice reforms—realignment and Proposition 47—have brought California’s incarcerated population down to levels not seen since the mid-1990s.
Report Pretrial Detention and Jail Capacity in California By Sonya Tafoya Jul 22, 2015 California’s persistently overcrowded jails are facing additional challenges now that public safety realignment has shifted many lower-level offenders from state prisons to county supervision. Jail capacity challenges are prompting a reconsideration of California’s heavy reliance on holding unsentenced defendants in jail pending trial—known as pretrial detention. The legal rationale for pretrial detention is to ensure court appearances and preserve public safety. But California’s high rates of pretrial detention have not been associated with lower rates of failure to appear or lower levels of felony rearrests. This report concludes that pretrial services programs—if properly implemented and embraced by the courts, probation, and the jails—could address jail overcrowding and improve the efficiency, equitability, and transparency of pretrial release decision making.
Fact Sheet Californians’ Attitudes Toward Marijuana Legalization By Mark Baldassare, Lunna Lopes, Dean Bonner Apr 22, 2015
Report School Finance By Margaret Weston Nov 14, 2012 There is broad consensus that California's school finance system is inequitable, inadequate, and overly complex. In response to these critiques, this year Governor Jerry Brown proposed an overhaul of our school finance system. Also, two initiatives on the November ballot asked voters to increase education funding through tax increases: voters approved Proposition 30, which was integral to the governor's budget plan, and rejected Proposition 38, a citizens' initiative. Despite the passage of Proposition 30, California faces many school finance challenges. This report provides an overview of the state's school finance system and outlines some longstanding school finance issues that may be in play next year.
press release Half of Likely Voters Favor Proposition 30—Support Slightly Lower for Proposition 38 Sep 19, 2012
press release Post-Election Survey: Proposition 8 Results Expose Deep Rifts Over Same-Sex Marriage Dec 3, 2008
press release Where The Rubber Meets The Road: Will Governor’s Popularity Translate Into Political Capital? Jan 15, 2004
