event Proposition 47 and Racial Disparities in California Jul 1, 2020 While the COVID-19 pandemic has required changes to law enforcement and correctional policies, widespread protests over the police-involved deaths of African Americans have intensified concern about racial and ethnic disparities in our criminal justice system. In recent years, California has implemented significant reforms that, while not motivated by racial disparities, are narrowing them.
press release Prop 47 Has Reduced Racial Disparities in Arrests and Bookings in California, but Serious Inequities Remain Jun 23, 2020
Report Proposition 47’s Impact on Racial Disparity in Criminal Justice Outcomes By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin, Steven Raphael Jun 23, 2020 Proposition 47, which reclassified a number of drug and property offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, has led to a marked decrease in racial disparities in arrests and bookings in California. But rates remain significantly higher for African Americans than for other groups.
blog post Prison Admissions Resume as COVID-19 Spreads By Heather Harris Jun 12, 2020 California has resumed prison admissions after an eight-week moratorium, a change that – if it leads to increased crowding -- could put the prison population at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19.
blog post Progress under Prop 47 but Racial Disparities Persist in California Arrests By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Jun 4, 2020 A key voter-approved reform has decreased arrests disparities between African Americans and whites, but a significant and pervasive divide remains.
blog post School Funding, COVID-19, and the 2020 Election Year By Mark Baldassare Apr 28, 2020 Although many Californians prioritize K-12 schools for state spending, a looming recession could dampen support for ballot measures for school funding.
blog post The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Test the State’s Budget Reserves By Radhika Mehlotra, Jennifer Paluch Apr 20, 2020 State reserve policies enacted since the Great Recession have boosted the capacity of California’s budget to weather a downturn, but a major recession due to COVID-19 would pose significant fiscal challenges.
blog post How Will COVID-19 Affect Arrests in California? By Alexandria Gumbs, Joseph Hayes Apr 16, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic is affecting various law enforcement practices, even as arrest rates in the state are at their lowest in decades.
blog post Proposition 187 and a Changing California By Dean Bonner Nov 6, 2019 Twenty-five years ago, California voters approved Prop. 187, which sought to deny most public benefits to undocumented immigrants. Today, most Californians support policies to protect them.
blog post Do Californians Support the Proposed School Bond? By Dean Bonner Oct 31, 2019 Slightly more than half of likely voters approve of the school bond measure that will be on the March 2020 ballot, but support varies across regions.