California Voices For Justice: Redefining Violent Crime
The Issue
California voters approved Proposition 57 on November 8, 2016 – with an overwhelming majority of 64%/36% (ballotopedia.com). This was a major blow to California victims of “non-violent” crimes. The passage of Proposition 57 will lead to the early parole of perpetrators of murder, rape, child molestation, and human trafficking. While we are aware that there has never been a statute prohibiting sex offenders from obtaining parole, this means that they could be out of jail even sooner.
A partial list includes:
- Rape by intoxication
- Rape of an unconscious person
- Human trafficking involving sex act with minors
- Drive-by shooting
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Taking a hostage
- Domestic violence involving trauma
- Supplying a firearm to a gang member
- Lewd acts upon a child
- Hate crime causing physical injury
- Failing to register as a sex offender
- Arson causing great bodily injury
- Felon obtaining a firearm
- Discharging a firearm on school grounds
- False imprisonment of an elder
We feel as though many may not have been aware exactly what Proposition 57 meant to California because this proposition did not specify anywhere within its text, which crimes were considered non-violent and therefore eligible for early parole. Due to this confusion, previous classifications written in CA penal code 667.5 (c) define what constitutes a violent felony. While Proposition 57 may be fiscally appropriate for California, to lessen the burden on our prison system, we feel as though the list of 23 crimes that were deemed violent felonies is insufficient and should encompass many of the crimes that are listed above.
We are currently focusing on having the crime of rape of an unconscious person reclassified as violent. We are asking out legislators to look at the law and choose to redefine rape of an unconscious person as a violent crime.
Please add your voice to our petition: take a stand for their victims who are only hearing, “justice denied”.
Petition Closed
The Issue
California voters approved Proposition 57 on November 8, 2016 – with an overwhelming majority of 64%/36% (ballotopedia.com). This was a major blow to California victims of “non-violent” crimes. The passage of Proposition 57 will lead to the early parole of perpetrators of murder, rape, child molestation, and human trafficking. While we are aware that there has never been a statute prohibiting sex offenders from obtaining parole, this means that they could be out of jail even sooner.
A partial list includes:
- Rape by intoxication
- Rape of an unconscious person
- Human trafficking involving sex act with minors
- Drive-by shooting
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Taking a hostage
- Domestic violence involving trauma
- Supplying a firearm to a gang member
- Lewd acts upon a child
- Hate crime causing physical injury
- Failing to register as a sex offender
- Arson causing great bodily injury
- Felon obtaining a firearm
- Discharging a firearm on school grounds
- False imprisonment of an elder
We feel as though many may not have been aware exactly what Proposition 57 meant to California because this proposition did not specify anywhere within its text, which crimes were considered non-violent and therefore eligible for early parole. Due to this confusion, previous classifications written in CA penal code 667.5 (c) define what constitutes a violent felony. While Proposition 57 may be fiscally appropriate for California, to lessen the burden on our prison system, we feel as though the list of 23 crimes that were deemed violent felonies is insufficient and should encompass many of the crimes that are listed above.
We are currently focusing on having the crime of rape of an unconscious person reclassified as violent. We are asking out legislators to look at the law and choose to redefine rape of an unconscious person as a violent crime.
Please add your voice to our petition: take a stand for their victims who are only hearing, “justice denied”.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on November 20, 2016