On November 4, 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47, a law that changed certain low-level crimes from potential felonies to misdemeanors. The savings from reduced incarceration costs will be invested into drug and mental health treatment, programs for at-risk students in K-12 schools, and victim services.
Individuals with a prior felony record for any of the following low-level, nonviolent offenses or who are currently serving time for the following crimes may qualify to change their record or their sentence to a misdemeanor:
Simple drug possession
Petty theft under $950
Shoplifting under $950
Forging or writing a bad check under $950
Receipt of stolen property under $950
Changing Your Felony
People who have been helped by Proposition 47 GO HERE
Individuals who are currently incarcerated for offenses committed in the state of California that are impacted by Proposition 47 can seek to be resentenced and released (this is known as resentencing). Click here for more information on the resentencing process. GO HERE
Individuals who have been previously convicted of these felonies for crimes committed in the state of California can apply to have them changed on their record to misdemeanors (this is known as reclassification). Click here for more information on the reclassification process. GO HERE
VIDEO ON PROPOSITION 47
