Senate Bill 649 would have provided prosecutors and judges the ability to reduce drug possession charges from felonies to misdemeanors. If convicted, instead of jail or prison, those charged would have been sent to rehabilitation facilities, and ordered to community service or probation.
Authored by Senator Mark Leno, the measure successfully passed both legislative houses. Many supporters hoped the bill would reduce overcrowding in the California prison system, which would in turn save California counties a heap of money.
SB 649 Supporters Come Against California Governor, Jerry Brown
“ The governor let down the people of California, the majority of whom support going even farther than this bill would have gone,” said Drug Policy Alliance director Lynne Lyman. “The vast majority of voters agree with the experts – locking up drug users is stupid, unproductive, cruel and expensive.”
In the California judicial system, LSD, methamphetamine and various other substances are classified as “wobblers,” meaning that possession of such drugs may be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony. Senate Bill 649 would have extended this approach to possession of cocaine, heroin and many other illicit substances, each of which carry a mandatory felony charge.
A coalition of prosecutors and law enforcement officials fought against the measure, claiming public safety would be compromised.
Bill supporters argued that the measure would reduce recidivism by way of removing barriers to employment, education and housing resulting from felony charges.
Brown’s veto statement deemed the measure premature, due tentative plans “to examine in detail California’s criminal justice system, including the current sentencing structure.” “We will do so with the full participation of all necessary parties, including law enforcement, courts and treatment providers,” Brown wrote. “That will be the appropriate time to evaluate out existing drug laws.”
SB 649’s Proposed Benefit For Simple Drug Offenders
According to an analysis of 2010 U.S. Justice Department data by the Drug Policy Alliance and the American Civil Liberties Union, drug offenders are more likely to get treatment and slightly less likely to use illegal drugs in the 13 state where simple drug possession is charged as a misdemeanor.
Read More About SB 649 And How It Could’ve Saved California $159 Million Per Year!
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